CN102742293B - Automatic tracing cable connects and identifies the correlation technique of the system of work area equipment, apparatus and method and operation communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

Provide the method for collecting the information about remote connector port, this connector port is connected to patch panel connector ports by having the telecommunication cable of at least one data communication channel and standalone dedicated control channel, wherein, bias-voltage is added to the first conductor of the standalone dedicated control channel of telecommunication cable to be that the integrated circuit (IC) chip be associated with remote connector port is powered.First signal is sent to by the standalone dedicated control channel of telecommunication cable the integrated circuit (IC) chip be associated with remote connector port.In response to this first signal, receive secondary signal by the standalone dedicated control channel of telecommunication cable from integrated circuit (IC) chip.Secondary signal comprises the information about remote connector port.

Description

System, apparatus and method for automatically tracking cable connections and identifying workspace equipment and related methods of operating a communication network

Cross Reference to Priority Application

This application claims priority as a continuation-in-part of US Patent Application Serial No. 12/545,096, filed August 21, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if set forth in its entirety.

technical field

The present invention relates generally to communication patching systems and, more particularly, to systems, devices and methods for automatically tracking connections in a communication network.

Background technique

Many businesses have proprietary communication systems that enable computers, servers, printers, fax machines, etc. to communicate with each other over private networks, and with remote locations via remote telecommunications service providers. Such communication systems may be hardwired with communication cables passing through eg walls and/or ceilings of buildings. Typically, these cables contain eight strands of insulated copper wire arranged as four differential twisted pairs of conductors, which can be used to carry four separate differential signals, although in some cases fiber optic communication cables can be substituted. Individual connector ports such as RJ-45 style modular wall jacks are installed in offices throughout the building. The cables provide the connection from connector ports in offices and other rooms, hallways, and building common areas (referred to herein as "work area exits") to network devices (e.g., network servers, switchers, etc.) that may be located in a computer room. communication path. Communication cables from external telecommunications service providers can also be terminated in the computer room.

Industrial data center operations also use hardwired communication systems to interconnect hundreds or thousands of servers, routers, storage systems, and other associated devices. In these data centers, fiber optic communication cables and/or communication cables comprising four differential pairs of insulated copper wires are used to interconnect the servers, routers, storage systems, and the like.

In both office network and data center operations, cables connected to terminal equipment may be terminated in one or more communication wiring systems which may later facilitate connectivity changes. Typically, a communication patching system includes a plurality of "patch panels" mounted on one or more equipment racks. As known to those skilled in the art, a "patch panel" refers to an inter-connect device that includes a plurality of connector ports on its front side. Each connector port (eg, RJ-45 jack or fiber optic adapter) is configured to receive a first communication cable terminated with a mating connector (eg, RJ-45 plug or fiber optic cable end). The second cable terminates into the opposite side of each connector port. For RJ-45 patch panels, the second cable is typically terminated to the patch panel by terminating the eight (or more) cable wires into corresponding insulation displacement contacts or other wire connection terminals of the connector port. in the opposite side. For fiber optic patch panels, the second cable is typically terminated into the opposite side of the patch panel by inserting a mating connector that terminates the second fiber optic cable into the opposite side of the fiber optic adapter. As used herein, "patch cord" refers to a communications cable having at least one end terminated with a connector (eg, an RJ-45 plug or fiber optic cable end). Each connector port on the patch panel may provide one or more communication paths between a first cable inserted into a front side of the connector port and a second cable terminated into an opposite side of the connector port. The patching system may optionally include various additional devices such as rack managers, system managers, and other devices that facilitate making and/or tracking patching connections.

Patch cords in a telecommunications wiring system may be re-routed frequently. Interconnections of patch cords are typically logged in a computer-based log that records changes made to the patch cord connections. Communication cable connections between patch panel ports and work area modular wall jacks are typically determined manually and recorded in a computer-based log. In this way, the computer-based log, if properly maintained, maintains an end-to-end connection between the work area wall jack and the connector port on the network adapter. However, the technician may neglect to update the log every time a change is made, and/or may make a mistake while making the log modification. Thus, the logs may not be completely accurate.

Various systems have been proposed to automatically record patch cord connections in communication patching systems, including the use of mechanical patching, radio frequency identification, and other techniques. These patching systems typically use specialized "smart" patch panels and management hardware and/or software to detect patch cord insertion/removal at the patch panel, and/or read identification located on patch cords or connector ports symbols to facilitate automatic tracing of wiring connections. Typically, these systems require that all patch panels in the communication wiring field have these automatic tracking capabilities. However, available systems often suffer from one or more disadvantages.

Contents of the invention

According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method for collecting information about a remote connector port connected to a patch panel connector by a communication cable having at least one data communication channel and one independent control channel port. According to these methods, a first conductor of an independent control channel of a communication cable is biased to power an integrated circuit chip associated with a remote connector port. The first signal is transmitted to the integrated circuit chip through a separate control channel of the communication cable. In response to the first signal, a second signal is received from the integrated circuit chip over a separate control channel of the communication cable. The second signal includes information about the remote connector port.

In some embodiments, the remote connector port may be a work area outlet such as, for example, a modular wall jack. In other embodiments, the remote connector port may be a connector port on the second patch panel. In some implementations, an independent control channel may include a first conductor that is a signal-carrying conductor and a second conductor that is a ground conductor. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit chip may be a serial ID chip. The data communication channel may include, for example, at least one optical fiber or four differential pairs of insulated conductors.

In some embodiments, the remote connector port may include first and second contact pads mounted near the plug hole of the remote connector port, and the integrated circuit chip may be electrically connected to the The first and second conductors of the independent control channel. The information about the remote connector port can include the location of the remote connector port.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a system for tracking communication cable connections is provided. These systems include a patch panel having a first connector port and a work area outlet including a second connector port and an associated integrated circuit chip. These systems further include a communication cable extending between the first and second connector ports. The communication cable has at least one data communication channel and one independent control channel. A microprocessor associated with the first terminal block communicates with the integrated circuit chip through an independent control channel.

In some embodiments, the independent control channel may be a first conductor coupled to a signal output of the microprocessor and a second conductor coupled to ground. The integrated circuit chip may be a serial ID chip, and the at least one data communication channel may include four differential pairs of insulated conductors.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method for automatically identifying a terminal device connected to a local area network is provided. According to these methods, a first control signal is transmitted through a control channel that passes from a first connector port on a patch panel through at least a communication cable, a second connector port, and a patch cord to an integrated circuit mounted on a terminal device chip. In response to the signal, a second control signal is received from the integrated circuit chip over the control channel. The second control signal includes identification information for the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the integrated circuit chip may be a first serial ID chip, and the identification information may be MACID. The second connector port may include a second serial ID chip electrically connected to the control channel. The second connector port may also include a sensor configured to detect when a patch cord is inserted into the second connector port. In such an implementation, the first control signal may be communicated in response to determining that a patch cord is inserted into the second connector port. The methods may further include the step of powering the integrated circuit chip through the first conductive path of the control channel to a voltage sufficient to operate the integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip may be part of a passive electronic tag mounted adjacent a third connector port included on the terminal device.

According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a smart connector port assembly comprising a connector port having a plug hole. The connector port is configured to electrically connect a data communication channel of a patch cord connected to an input contact of the connector port to a data communication channel of a communication cable connected to an output contact of the connector port. The assembly further includes an integrated circuit chip, a first pair of contacts mounted adjacent the receptacle hole, and a second pair of contacts configured to mate with a pair of conductors in the communication cable forming a control channel, the first pair of contacts The contacts are configured to mate with a pair of contacts on the patch cord when the patch cord is received within the receptacle hole. At least the first contacts of the first pair of contacts and the first contacts of the second pair of contacts are electrically connected to the integrated circuit chip.

In some embodiments, the assembly further includes a first printed circuit board, and the first pair of contacts is mounted on the first printed circuit board. The first pair of contacts may include, for example, a pair of contact pads. The assembly may also include a second printed circuit board and a pair of connection contacts. In such an embodiment, the second pair of contacts may be mounted on the second printed circuit board, while the connection contacts electrically connect the first and second printed circuit boards. In some embodiments, the second pair of contacts can be a pair of insulation displacement contacts, and/or the integrated circuit chip can be a serial ID chip that is connected by the first contact of the second pair of contacts. received voltage supply. A second contact of the second pair of contacts may receive a ground signal.

The connector port may be, for example, an RJ-45 jack with end caps. In some embodiments, the end cap may include a pair of spring-loaded pins configured to engage with the second pair of contacts when the end cap is mounted on the rear wire connection assembly of the RJ-45 jack. The corresponding contact parts engage. In other embodiments, the end cap may include a conductor routing assembly for routing said pair of conductors in the communication cable, said pair of conductors forming a control channel to the second pair of contacts.

In some embodiments, the assembly may further include an LED mounted on the first printed circuit board and electrically connected via the second pair of contacts to said pair of conductors in the communication cable forming the control channel. The assembly may also include a spring-loaded shutter mounted to cover the plug hole, the shutter including a contact portion that contacts a shutter on the first printed circuit board when the shutter is in its closed position. Cooperate. In such an embodiment, the barrier contact may be configured to act as a sensor for determining whether a patch cord is inserted into the receptacle hole.

According to additional embodiments of the present invention, a method of automatically servicing a connector port on a network switch is provided. According to these methods, terminal equipment connected to a network adapter is identified using a control channel through one or more communication cables and a control channel extending from a patch cord that connects a connector port on the network adapter to connected to the end device. In response to this identification, services that should be provided to the terminal device can be automatically identified. The identified service can then be automatically provided to the connector port on the network adapter. In some embodiments, the methods may further include the steps of determining whether the identified end device is authorized to access the network switch, and enabling network switch in response to determining that the identified device is authorized to access connector port on the device.

According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, a method of enabling a connector port on a network adapter is provided. According to these methods, a terminal device electrically connected to a network adapter is identified using a control channel extending through one or more communication cables and a patch cord that connects a connector port on the network adapter to the terminal device . It can then be automatically determined whether the identified terminal device is authorized to access the network adapter. If it is determined that the identified terminal device is authorized to access the network adapter, the connector port on the network adapter may be automatically enabled.

According to yet additional embodiments of the present invention, a passive electrically readable tag configured to be mounted on a device including a first connector port and a second connector port is provided. These tags may include a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit chip mounted on the printed circuit board, a first pair of contacts mounted on the printed circuit board adjacent to the ports of the first connector, and a first pair of contacts mounted on the printed circuit board adjacent to the ports of the second connector. The second pair of contacts for the port. A unique identifier associated with a connector port can be stored on the integrated circuit chip. A first contact of the first pair of contacts is electrically connected to the integrated circuit chip. A first contact of the first pair of contacts is electrically connected to a first contact of the second pair of contacts, and a second contact of the first pair of contacts is electrically connected to a second contact of the second pair of contacts.

In some embodiments, the printed circuit board can be electrically isolated from the device, and/or the integrated circuit chip can be a serial ID chip. The label may further comprise an adhesive layer for mounting the label on the device. Both the serial ID chip and the adhesive layer can be mounted on the backside of the printed circuit board. This can help protect the serial ID chip from accidental damage and can reduce the number of components included on the front side of the printed circuit board.

According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an RJ-45 connector port assembly comprising a communication cable having first through tenth conductors, including first through eighth wire connection cables receiving corresponding first through eighth conductors. terminal, and a second printed circuit board including ninth and tenth wire connection terminals accommodating ninth and tenth conductors respectively, wherein the first to eighth wire connection terminals are mounted on the first printed circuit board circuit board. The ninth and tenth wire connection terminals may be, for example, contact pads or insulation displacement contacts. The ninth and tenth conductors may have different diameters than the first to eighth conductors. In particular, in some embodiments, the ninth and tenth conductors may be smaller than the first through eighth conductors. It is also understood that some or all of the first through tenth wires may have non-circular cross-sections.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method for automatically identifying a terminal device connected to a local area network is provided. According to these methods, a first control signal is transmitted through a control channel that passes from a first connector port on a patch panel of a local area network through at least a communication cable, a second connector port and a patch cord to a terminal device mounted on a terminal device. Integrated circuit chip. In response to the first signal, a second control signal is received from the integrated circuit chip over the control channel. The second control signal includes identification information for the terminal device. In some embodiments, the method is performed for a period of time where the terminal device is not powered.

According to a further additional embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method for testing a wall jack assembly of a communication system, wherein at least one communication path between the wall jack assembly and a computer room is tested using a handheld test device. The handheld test device is further used to program location information into the integrated circuit chip of the wall jack assembly. In some embodiments, the handheld test device may include first and second contacts configured to mate with corresponding contacts of a wall jack assembly, the first and second contacts being electrically connected to the serial ID chip.

According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, a method of tracing horizontal cabling in a communication system is provided. According to these methods, connections between connector ports of a plurality of network adapters and a plurality of modular wall jacks of a communication system are automatically identified, and the identified connections are then stored in a memory. The methods may also include automatically identifying at least some of the end devices that are patch cord connected to corresponding ones of the plurality of modular wall jacks.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method for automatically discovering a backbone cable connection between a first patch panel and a second patch panel is provided. According to these methods, a first control signal is conveyed through a control channel that passes through a first backbone cable from a first connector port on a first patch panel to a port associated with a first connector port on a second patch panel. Integrated circuit chip. In response to the first signal, a second control signal is received from the integrated circuit chip over the control channel. The second signal includes identification information for the first connector port on the second terminal block.

In some embodiments, the integrated circuit chip may be a serial ID chip. The method may also include recording information about the connection between the first connector port on the first patch panel and the first connector port on the second patch panel in a connectivity database. The method may also include sending additional control signals over respective ones of a plurality of additional control channels associated with respective ones of the plurality of additional connector ports on the first patch panel, and receiving responsive control signals over at least some of the control channels. A signal including identification information for a connector port on the other patch panel and connected to a corresponding one of the connector ports on the first patch panel by a backbone cable. These methods may be performed prior to using patch cords to connect any connector ports on the first patch panel to other equipment.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an interconnection communication patching system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of one of the intelligent patch panels of the communication patch system of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a portion of the front printed circuit board of the smart patch panel of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the rear printed circuit board of the smart patch panel of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the smart patch panel of FIG. 2 .

Figure 6A is a perspective view of a patch cord that may be used in some embodiments of the present invention.

6B is an enlarged view of a portion of the patch cord of FIG. 6A.

7 is a schematic diagram of a simplified cross-connect communication patching system according to some embodiments of the present invention.

8 is a perspective view of a modular wall jack assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a schematic front view of the modular wall jack assembly of FIG. 8 .

10 is a schematic side view of the modular wall jack assembly of FIG. 8 .

11 is a schematic plan view of the front printed circuit board of the modular wall jack assembly of FIG. 8 .

12 is a schematic plan view of the rear printed circuit board of the modular wall jack assembly of FIG. 8 .

13 is a perspective view of the modular wall jack assembly of FIG. 8 with the plug of the patch cord inserted into the jack thereof.

14 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a portion of a communication cable attached to the modular wall jack assembly of FIG. 8 .

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a portion of a passive tag according to some embodiments of the invention.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the label of Figure 15 installed on work area equipment.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a portion of a passive tag for a network adapter according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the label of Figure 17 installed on a network adapter.

Fig. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically identifying a terminal device in a work area according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically tracking horizontal cable connections according to an embodiment of the present invention.

21A-21D are schematic block diagrams illustrating communication links included in patching systems according to various embodiments of the invention.

22 is a perspective view of a modular wall jack assembly according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 23 is a schematic block diagram illustrating how a work area computer can be connected to a modular wall jack assembly via an Internet phone using a passive bridging tag according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically providing services to connector ports on a network adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

25 is a flowchart diagram illustrating a method of automatically enabling connector ports on a network adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 26 is a schematic front view of a modular wall jack assembly according to other embodiments of the present invention.

27 is a schematic front view of a portion of another front printed circuit board usable on the smart patch panel of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically discovering backbone cables between patch panels according to an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. However, this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments will be provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey information to those skilled in the art. fully convey the scope of the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Here, the terms used in the description of the present invention are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It will also be understood that when an element (eg, device, circuit, etc.) is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

Embodiments of the present invention are schematically described below with reference to flow charts. It can be understood that some blocks illustrated in the flowcharts may be combined or divided into multiple blocks, and that the blocks in the flowchart diagrams are not necessarily executed in the order shown in the flowcharts.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, a communication system is provided which uses, for example, a serial ID chip to allow intelligent tracking of wiring and cable connections within a communication network. These serial ID chips can be installed on patch panels, network equipment (eg, switches, routers, servers), work area outlets, and on work area terminal equipment (eg, computers, printers, fax machines, Internet phones). As will be discussed in detail below, a communication patching system according to an embodiment of the present invention can automatically: (1) trace the wiring connections between patch panels and network adapters, (2) monitor the flow of horizontal cables to work area exits; Connectivity, (3) tracking of end devices connected to work area outlets, and (4) tracking of end devices connected to network adapters. Additionally, the type and/or identity of an end device may be tracked regardless of whether the end device is powered on or not.

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an interconnected communication system 10 according to some embodiments of the present invention, which can be used to connect computers, printers, Internet phones, and other terminal equipment located throughout a building workspace to a location such as A network device in a computer room of a building. As shown in FIG. 1, a computer 20 or other terminal equipment is located in a work area 2 of a building. The computer 20 is connected by a patch cord 22 to a modular wall jack 24 installed in a wall panel 26 in the work area 2 . A communication cable 28 is routed from the rear end of the wall jack 24 to the machine room 4 through, for example, a building wall and/or ceiling. Since there may be hundreds or thousands of work area wall jacks 24 in an office building, a large number of cables 28 may be routed in the computer room 4 .

A first device rack 30 is provided in the machine room 4 . A plurality of terminal blocks 32 are installed on the first equipment rack 30 . Each patch panel 32 includes a plurality of connector ports 34 . Each cable 28 is terminated on the rear end of one of the connector ports 34 of one of the patch panels 32 . In FIG. 1, each connector port 34 includes an RJ-45 jack. However, it will be appreciated that other types of connector ports may also be used, such as, for example, LC, SC, MPO or other fiber optic adapters.

A rack controller 36 is also mounted on the equipment rack 30 . Rack controller 36 includes a central processing unit (“CPU”) 38 and a display 39 . In a large-scale patching system that includes multiple equipment racks filled with patch panels (only one such rack 30 is depicted in FIG. 1 ), the rack controller 36 may communicate with other The rack controllers (not shown in Figure 1) are interconnected so that the rack controllers can communicate in the common network as if they were one controller. The CPU 38 of the rack controller 36 may be capable of independently running the wire tracing program as described below, and may also include remote access to enable the CPU 38 to be accessed by a remote computer such as, for example, a system administrator computer (not shown in FIG. 1 ). port. Rack controller 36 may, for example, operate and collect data based on smart tracking capabilities of patch panels 32, as will be set forth herein.

As further shown in FIG. 1 , network equipment such as, for example, one or more network switches 42 and network routers and/or servers 46 are mounted on, for example, a second equipment rack 40 . Each adapter 42 may include a plurality of connector ports 44 and each network router and/or server 46 may include one or more connector ports 48 . One or more external communication lines 52 are connected (either directly or through patch panels) to at least some of the network devices 46 . A first set of patch cords 50 connects the connector ports 44 on the adapter 42 to corresponding ones of the connector ports 34 on the patch panel 32 . A second set of patch cords 54 may be used to interconnect the other connector ports 44 on the adapter 42 with the connector ports 48 provided on the network router/server 46 . To simplify FIG. 1, only one patch cord 50 and one patch cord 54 are shown. The communication wiring system of FIG. 1 can be used to connect each work area computer 20 or other equipment to the network adapter 42, connect the network adapter 42 to the network router and server 46, and connect the network router/server 46 to the external communication line 52 to establish the physical connections required for device 20 to access local and wide area networks.

The communication system 10 of FIG. 1 can be used to automatically determine and/or confirm wiring connections in all directions from a terminal device such as a computer 20 in the work area 2 to a terminal device such as a network router 46 in the computer room 4 . This automatic tracking can be achieved by installing serial ID chips on work area terminal equipment 20, work area wall jacks 24, smart patch panels 32, and/or network devices 42/46, and by utilizing The patch cords 22, 50, 54 and the dedicated communication cable 28 of both the independent control channel of the ID chip communication are realized.

As known to those skilled in the art, a serial ID chip is an integrated circuit ("IC") that is pre-programmed (either by the user or the chip purchaser during or after manufacture) with a unique identifier and/or other information. )chip. These serial ID chips are configured to transmit a signal including some or all of the information (eg, a unique identifier) programmed therein in response to receipt of a signal from a host device, such as, for example, a microprocessor. A unique identifier may be any information used to identify a particular device and/or ports on it. For example, in some embodiments, for workspace terminal devices 20 and/or network devices such as network switches 42 and routers/servers 46, the unique identifiers may be the serial numbers or MACIDs of the respective devices. For a patch panel, the unique identifier may be, for example, the patch panel's serial number or MACID combined with a port number identifying the dedicated port of the patch panel with which the serial ID chip is associated. For a wall jack, the unique identifier may be, for example, the location and outlet number (eg, office 327, jack number 2). It will be appreciated that a wide variety of other information may also be used as the unique identifier. Exemplary serial ID chips include, for example, 1-wire ICs available from Maxim Integrated Products (formerly Dallas Semiconductor Corp.) chip. In some embodiments, the serial ID chip may have two input/output pins, a first pin that carries signals to and from the serial ID chip and a ground signal that carries signals to the serial ID chip the second pin. The first pin can also be used to provide an operating voltage for powering the serial ID chip.

2-5 illustrate one of the terminal blocks 32 of FIG. 1 in more detail. Specifically, FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the terminal block 32 . FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a portion of the front printed circuit board 120 of the wiring board 32 . FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a small portion of the rear printed circuit board of terminal block 32 . Finally, FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the terminal block 32 illustrating how the front printed circuit board 120 is connected to the rear printed circuit board 110 . 2-5 illustrate the electrical connection and circuit elements of the terminal block 32, which can be used for automatic tracking (1) between the terminal block 32 and the adapter 42 of FIG. 1 and (2) the modularization of the terminal block 32 and FIG. 1 Wiring connections between wall jack assemblies 24.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the exemplary patch panel 32 includes a mounting frame 100 and twenty-four connector ports 34 arranged in this embodiment in four groups of six connections. to port 34. The front printed circuit board 120 is mounted on the front of the mounting frame 100 and includes a cutout area for each connector port 34 . The front side 122 of the front printed circuit board 120 faces forward and the back side 124 of the front printed circuit board 120 abuts the front of the mounting frame 100 . The front printed circuit board 120 is shown in the outline representation of FIG. 2 as it may be partially or completely hidden under a cover or other protective or aesthetic housing. A tracking button 130 and a light emitting diode (“LED”) 140 are mounted on the front side 122 of the front printed circuit board 120 adjacent each connector port 34 . The operation of tracking button 130 and LED 140 is described in detail below.

Also shown in FIG. 2 is a pair of contact pads 150 , 152 disposed on the front side 122 of the front printed circuit board 120 adjacent each connector port 34 . Although each pair of contact pads 150, 152 is mounted directly over a respective connector port 34, it will be appreciated that the contact pads 150, 152 could also be located in a different location (eg, below the connector port 34). It is also understood that in other embodiments, contact structures other than contact pads may be used, such as, for example, contact pins, contact springs, and the like. The patch panel 32 also includes a connector 160 that receives one end of a communication cable 165 (eg, ribbon cable, RJ-45 patch cord, etc.). The other end of the communication cable 165 may be connected directly or indirectly to, for example, the rack manager 36 (see FIG. 1 ). The communication cable 165 provides a communication path that allows information to be sent to and from components mounted on the front printed circuit board 120 and/or rear printed circuit board 110 of the patch panel 32 and rack controller 36 .

3 is an enlarged schematic front view of a portion of the front printed circuit board 120 of the smart patch panel 32 of FIGS. 1-2. The front printed circuit board 120 may be generally rectangular in shape and may include a plurality of cutout areas 126 . Each of these cutout areas 126 provides access to a corresponding one of the connector ports 34 of the patch panel 32 , which in the particular embodiment of FIG. 3 is an RJ-45 style jack. These cutout areas 126 are also referred to herein as connector port openings 126 .

As shown in FIG. 3 , track buttons 130 and LEDs 140 are mounted on the front side 122 of the front printed circuit board 120 , with each track button 130 and LED 140 positioned above a corresponding connector port opening 126 . The front printed circuit board 120 also includes a plurality of detectors 170 positioned directly above each connector port opening 126 in this particular embodiment. As with tracking button 130 and LED 140 , one detector 170 is provided for each connector port 34 . Also disposed on the front side 122 of the front printed circuit board 120 are a plurality of emitters 172 , wherein each emitter 172 is located below a corresponding connector port opening 126 .

A plurality of serial ID chips 180 are mounted, for example, on the backside 124 of the printed circuit board 120 (and are therefore shown using dotted lines). In the particular embodiment shown, one serial ID chip 180 is provided for each connector port 34 . However, it is understood that in other embodiments, each serial ID chip 180 may be associated with multiple connector ports 34 . Furthermore, the microprocessor 190 may also be mounted, for example, on the rear side 124 of the front printed circuit board 120 (and is therefore also shown using dotted lines). Each detector 170 may be connected to the microprocessor 190 by a corresponding one of the first set of printed circuit board traces 171 . In addition, a pair of contact pads 150 , 152 are located directly above each connector port opening 126 as described above. A second set of printed circuit board traces 154 connects each contact pad 150 or 152 to a corresponding one of the two pins provided on each serial ID chip 180 . These traces 154 thus place each pair of contact pads 150 , 152 in electrical communication with a corresponding serial ID chip 180 . A third set of printed circuit board traces 156 each connecting one of the contact pads 150 to an input/output port on the microprocessor 190 is provided. A fourth set of printed circuit board traces 158 each connecting one of the contact pads 152 to a ground reference on the microprocessor 190 (or elsewhere on the printed circuit board 120) is provided. Finally, power connections and ground references (not shown in FIG. 3 ) may be provided for each detector 170 and emitter 172 as well as for the microprocessor 190 . Printed circuit board traces (not shown in FIG. 3 ) are also provided on the front printed circuit board 120 connecting the tracking buttons 130 and the LEDs 140 to the microprocessor 190 . Finally, above the respective connector port openings 126 electrically connected to the contact pads 150 , 152 by the fifth set of printed circuit board traces 160 , a pair of plated holes 128 are provided. As will be discussed in more detail below, each of these holes 128 can accommodate a connection contact that electrically connects the contact pads 150, 152 to a corresponding set of contact pads 112, 114 mounted on the rear printed circuit board 110. Section 129.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a small portion of rear printed circuit board 110 (ie, the portion above two of connector ports 34 ). The rear printed circuit board 110 may be mounted on the rear side of the mounting frame 100 . As shown in FIG. 4 , the rear printed circuit board 110 includes pairs of contact pads 112 , 114 mountable over, for example, each connector port 34 . Rear printed circuit board 110 also includes pairs of plated holes 116 associated with each connector port 34 on terminal block 32 . Each plated hole 116 accommodates two connection contacts 129 for electrically connecting contact pads 150, 152 on the front printed circuit board 120 with corresponding contact pads 112, 114 on the rear printed circuit board 110 (see FIG. ), contact pads 150, 152 are associated with each connector port 34. A printed circuit board trace 118 is provided to electrically connect the plated hole 116 to the first and second contact pads 112 , 114 .

FIG. 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of terminal board 32 illustrating how connection contacts 129 electrically connect front printed circuit board 120 to rear printed circuit board 110 . As shown in FIG. 5 , the connection contact 129 may include a metal strip extending between the rear printed circuit board 110 and the front printed circuit board 120 . In some embodiments, these metal strips may have eye-of-needle ends at each end thereof to facilitate installation of the connection contacts 129 in the metallized holes 116 , 128 . As is apparent from FIGS. 3-5 , connection contacts 129 (and printed circuit board traces 118, 156, 158 and 160) are connected to contact pads 112, 114 on microprocessor 190 and rear printed circuit board 110. A communication path is provided between them. This communication path allows the microprocessor 190 to communicate control signals to conductors on the cable that are terminated in the rear of the connector port 34, as will be described in more detail below.

As further shown in FIG. 5 , each connector port 34 may include, for example, an RJ-45 jack 60 . The jack 60 may include a housing 62 and a jack printed circuit board (not visible) having a plurality of jack line contacts (not visible) and insulation displacement contacts mounted thereon. ("IDC") (not visible in the figure). Each jack wire contact may be electrically connected to a corresponding one of the IDCs by conductive traces on the jack printed circuit board. The receptacle 60 may further include a stamped down cover 64 which may comprise a plastic cover piece mounted on top of the receptacle housing 62 . Stamped down cover 64 includes first and second wire ends 66, 68 (only end 66 is shown in FIG. into the cable on the rear end of jack 60, as will be discussed in more detail here. The wire ends 66, 68 may be crimped using special tools to be permanently crimped onto the respective conductors of the two additional conductors. The punch down cover 64 may also include first and second spring loaded pins 70, 72 (only pin 70 is visible in FIG. 5) electrically connected to the first and second wire ends 66, 68, respectively. The first and second spring loaded pins 70, 72 are configurable to mate with the first and second contact pads 112, 114 on the rear printed circuit board 110 when the down stamped cover 64 is mounted on the IDC housing 62 , thereby providing an electrical path to connect the two additional conductors in the cable attached to the jack 60 to the rear printed circuit board 110 .

The operation of the various components of the front printed circuit board 120 and the rear printed circuit board 110 will now be discussed in more detail.

Detectors 170 and emitters 172 on the front printed circuit board 120 may be used to detect when patch cords are inserted into and/or removed from the various connector ports 34 on the patch panel 32 34 removed. In the depicted embodiment, each detector 170 comprises an infrared detector mounted on the front printed circuit board 120 just above its associated connector port 34 and each emitter 172 comprises an infrared detector mounted on the front printed circuit board 120 . The infrared emitter just below its associated connector port 34. Accordingly, infrared detectors 170 and infrared emitters 172 may be arranged in pairs, wherein each infrared detector 170 is mounted directly opposite its corresponding infrared emitter 172 and arranged to receive the infrared emitted by its paired infrared emitter 172. beam. Infrared detector 170 and infrared emitter 172 may be used as described below to detect the insertion and/or removal of a patch cord in a communication patching system using patch panel 32 .

When a plug on one end of a patch cord (eg, one of the patch cords 50 of FIG. 1 ) is received in one of the connector ports 34 (see FIG. 2 ) on the patch panel 32 , the plug blocks infrared radiation. An infrared beam from emitter 172 associated with the connector port 34 that receives the plug. Once the infrared beam is blocked by the plug, the infrared beam is no longer detected by the infrared detector 170 on the printed circuit board 120 , which is located on the opposite side of the connector port 34 from the infrared emitter 172 . As mentioned above, microprocessor 190 is electrically connected to each infrared detector 170 through printed circuit board traces 171 and through this connection monitors the output status of each infrared detector 170 indicating whether the infrared detector 170 has received an infrared beam. When the microprocessor 190 determines that one of the infrared detectors 170 is no longer detecting the infrared beam, the microprocessor 190 recognizes this as indicating that a patch cord has been received in the connector port 34 associated with that particular infrared detector 170 . Similarly, when a patch cord (eg, one of the patch cords 50 of FIG. 1 ) is removed from one of the connector ports 34, the infrared detector 170 associated with that connector port 34 will again detect its corresponding The infrared emitter 172 emits an infrared beam. Again, this information is sensed by the microprocessor 190, which recognizes the information as indicating that the patch cord has been removed from the connector port 34 with which that particular infrared detector 170 is associated. In this way, the microprocessor 190 can detect (and record, for example, in a database) the insertion of a patch cord into any connector port 34 on the patch panel 32, or from any connector port 34 on the patch panel 32, by monitoring the status of each infrared detector 170. Any connector port 34 removed in each case.

While the particular embodiment of patch panel 32 depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes microprocessor 190 that tracks the insertion and removal of patch cords from each connector port 34, it will be appreciated that in other Microprocessor 190 may be omitted and/or other processing devices may be used instead to track insertion and removal of patch cords. For example, in other embodiments of the present invention, the output of each infrared detector 170 may be transmitted via connector 160 and communication cable 165, for example, to CPU 38 of rack manager 36, which may be used instead to perform the functions of microprocessor 190. .

Similarly, while smart patch panel 32 is shown in FIG. 2 as using infrared emitter 172 and infrared detector 170 to detect insertion and removal of patch cords, it will be appreciated that other types of sensing devices could be used. For example, in other embodiments of the present invention, each pair of infrared emitters 172 and infrared detectors 170 on the front printed circuit board 120 can be replaced with a single infrared emitter/detector, and when the plug is inserted into the connector port Within 34 hours, the infrared emitter/detector emits an infrared signal and can then detect infrared energy reflected back to the emitter/detector. Thus, when using such infrared emitters/detectors, any absence of any infrared signal indicates that the associated connector port 34 is not in use, whereas once a patch cord is inserted into the involved connector port 34 there is no indication for reflected infrared energy. detection appears. The use of infrared emitters/detectors may allow the use of a smaller printed circuit board that only extends above (or below) the connector ports 34 on the patch panel 32 because they eliminate the on any demand with emitters and detectors. In still other embodiments, each pair of infrared emitter 172 and infrared detector 170 may be composed of a light emitter and detector, a magnetic Detectors, mechanical or electromechanical adapters, etc. instead.

As mentioned above, the front printed circuit board 120 also includes a trace button 130 and an LED 140 for each connector port opening 126 . Each tracking button 130 is connected to the microprocessor 190 through conductive traces 132 on the front printed circuit board 120 , while each LED 140 is connected to the microprocessor 190 through conductive traces 142 on the printed circuit board 120 . As will be discussed in more detail below, trace button 130 and LED 140 can be used to allow a technician to easily identify the connector port connected to each connector port 34 on patch panel 32 by communication cable 28 or patch cord 50 . It will be appreciated that in some embodiments various components may be omitted, such as, for example, tracking button 130 and/or LED 140 .

As noted above, a plurality of serial ID chips 180 are mounted on the opposite side 124 of the front printed circuit board 120 (shown using dotted lines). As discussed in more detail below, serial ID chip 180 may be used to automatically collect patch cord connectivity information. Specifically, a patch cord including an independent control channel may be used to communicate with the serial ID chip 180 . Herein, the term "control channel" refers to a communication path for carrying control signals, including signals used to request and/or provide wiring connectivity information. This "control channel" is separate from the data channels provided in all standard network patch cords and cables that carry information signals that are carried across the network between end devices. For example, in a standard RJ-45 patch cord, eight conductors forming four differential conductor pairs form four data channels. Some specialty RJ-45 patch cords known in the art include, for example, a ninth conductor. The ninth conductor in these patch cords typically includes a control channel that carries control information. As discussed below, according to some embodiments of the present invention, an independent control channel may include two conductors, one of which carries the control signal and the second of which carries the ground reference. Before discussing the operation of serial ID chip 180, trace button 130, and LED 140, it is helpful to discuss the configuration of certain patch cords that may be used to automatically track patch cord connectivity in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

6A is a perspective view of an RJ-45 style patch cord 200 that may be used to send signals to and from the serial ID chip 180 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The patch cord 200 may be used to implement each of the patch cords 22 , 50 , 54 in the interconnection communication system 10 of FIG. 1 . 6B is an enlarged view of a portion of the patch cord of FIG. 6A.

As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the patch cord 200 includes a communication cable 218 terminated with a pair of communication plugs 220, 220'. The communication cable 218 includes eight insulated conductors 201-208 arranged as four differential twisted pairs 211-214 of conductors. The communication cable 218 may also include a splitter 215 that separates at least some of the differential pairs 211-214 from each other. These eight conductors 201 - 208 and any splitter 215 are typically twisted to apply a "core twist" to the cable 218 .

Furthermore, the ninth and tenth conductors 209 , 210 are included in the cable 218 . The ninth and tenth wires 209, 210 may be, for example, insulated copper wires, although other conductors may be used and/or insulators may be omitted. These ninth and tenth wires 209, 210 may be used to transmit signals to and from the serial ID chip 180 associated with the connector port 34 into which the patch cord 200 is plugged. The ninth wire 209 may be a signal carrying wire and the tenth wire 210 may be a ground wire. The ninth and tenth wires 209, 210 may be twisted together or untwisted. A sheath 216 surrounds the first through eighth wires 201 - 208 , the ninth and tenth wires 209 , 210 and any separator 215 . The dimensions of the ninth and tenth conductive lines 209, 210 may be different from those of the first to eighth conductive lines 201-208. For example, in some embodiments, the ninth and tenth wires 209, 210 may be smaller than the first through eighth wires 201-208.

As further shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B , the plug 220 includes a plug housing 222, eight plug blades (or other plug contacts) 224 mounted on the top front surface of the housing 222, a plug latch 226 and a plug latch 226. Contacts 232, 234 for the serial ID chip. The plug 220 may comprise a conventional RJ-45 plug, except that the top rear surface of the housing 220 includes two contact pin housings 230 that receive corresponding contacts 232 , 234 . The contact 232 may be electrically connected to the ninth wire 209 in the cable 218 via, for example, an insulating through-contact (not shown in FIG. 6A ). Contact 234 may be electrically connected to tenth wire 210 of cable 218 in a similar manner. In the depicted embodiment, the contacts 232 , 234 may be "pogo" style contacts comprising spring-loaded conductive pins within their respective contact pin housings 230 . Plug 220' may be the same as plug 220, and therefore will not be discussed separately here.

When the plug 220 is inserted into one of the RJ-45 connector ports 34 on the patch panel 32, the contacts 232, 234 are in contact with the plug-accommodating cavity of the connector port 34 just where the connector port 34 is received. The upper terminal block 32 front makes physical contact. The contacts 232, 234 are located inside the plug housing 220 such that when the plug 220 is fully inserted and locked into the connector port 34, each contact pin 232, 234 is driven back a short distance by the front of the terminal block 32 to into its contact pin housing 230 . This rearward movement of the contact pins 232, 234 is permitted by the spring-loaded design of the contact pins 232, 234, the spring bias on each contact pin 232, 234 providing a connection between each contact pin 232, 234 and the terminal block. 32 forces on the front of the intimate contact of the contact surface.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3 , it can be seen that a pair of contacts (in the form of a pair of contact pads 150 , 152 ) are provided on terminal block 32 above the plug receiving cavity of each connector port 34 . Plug 220 may be designed such that contact pin 232 makes contact with contact pad 150 and contact pin 234 makes contact with contact pad 152 when plug 220 is received within one of connector ports 34 . Accordingly, the contact pins 232, 234 on the plug 220 and the corresponding contact pads of the pair of contact pads 150, 152 can provide a communication path that allows the data signal carried on the ninth wire 209 to communicate with the contact pad on the tenth wire. The ground reference carried on wire 210 is communicated through patch cord 200 to and from serial ID chip 180 that is associated with connector port 34 into which patch cord 200 is plugged.

Here will be described the terminal equipment (for example, the computer 20 of FIG. 1 ) and the terminal equipment (for example, switch 42 and even router and server 46) communication paths. Before doing so, a method of tracing a wiring connection between two patch panels according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described, and then this description will be extended to illustrate how to automatically track connections between a patch panel and one or more terminal devices .

In particular, the communication wiring system of FIG. 1 is generally referred to as an "interconnect" communication wiring system. In such an interconnected wiring system, the communication path between each work area device 20 and the network adapter 42 typically runs through only one patch panel 32 . In an interconnection system, connectivity is typically changed by rerouting patch cords 50 that are bonded between patch panels 32 and network adapters 42 . However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that in many cases another type of wiring system, known as a "cross-connect" wiring system, is used. In a cross-connect patching system, an additional set of patch panels is provided so that wiring can be made by rerouting the patch cords extending between the two patch panels instead of rerouting the patch cords extending from the patch panel to the network switch Change.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a simplified cross-connect communication patching system 12 according to some embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the cross-connect system 12 is substantially the same as the interconnect communication patching system of FIG. 1, except that a second set of patch panels 32' is provided between the first set of patch panels 32 and the network equipment 42/46. Thus, in the cross-connect system 12 of FIG. 7 , the work area computers 20 are connected to the modular wall jacks 24 by patch cords 22 . The communication cable 28 runs from the wall jack 24 to a single connector port 34 on one of the patch panels 32 mounted on the first equipment rack 30 . However, in contrast to the interconnection system of FIG. 1, the cross-connect wiring system includes a second equipment rack 30' having a plurality of patch panels 32' mounted thereon. The first set of patch cords 50 is used to interconnect the connector ports 34 on the patch panel 32 to corresponding ones of the connector ports 34' on the patch panel 32'. A network adapter 42 and a network router/server 46 are mounted on a third equipment rack 40 . A second set of patch cords 70 is used to connect the connector ports 44 on the network adapter 42 to the rear ends of corresponding ones of the connector ports 34' on the patch panel 32'. A third set of patch cords 54 may be used to interconnect other connector ports 44 on the adapter 42 with connector ports provided on the network router/server 46 . In the cross-connect wiring system of FIG. 7, connectivity is typically provided by relocating patch cords 50 interconnecting the connector ports 34 on the patch panel 32 with respect to the corresponding connector ports 34' on the patch panel 32'. Change. Terminal block 32' may be identical to terminal block 32, and therefore further components thereof are not described here, but instead are simply given an original designation (') to each component (e.g., terminal block 32' has printed circuit board 120') to A distinction is made between parts of one of the terminal boards 32 and parts of one of the terminal boards 32'.

The connectivity of the patch cord 50 between the connector port 34 on the patch panel 32 and the connector port 34' on one of the patch panels 32' can be automatically determined as follows. For purposes of discussion, assume that patch cord 50 has the configuration of patch cord 200 of FIGS. 6A-6B .

The plug 220 on the patch cord 200 can be inserted into one of the connector ports 34 of the patch panel 32 and the plug 220' on the other end of the patch cord can be inserted into one of the patch panels 32'. Operation begins in connector port 34'. Once the plug 220 is inserted into the connector port 34 , it blocks the path between the detector 170 and the emitter 172 associated with the connector port 34 receiving the plug 220 . Detector 170 senses that it is no longer receiving signals from transmitter 172 and provides this information to microprocessor 190 . Microprocessor 190 on patch panel 32 may then notify rack manager 36 that a patch cord has been inserted into dedicated connector port 34 of receiving plug 220 .

Microprocessor 190 may have multiple output pins. As described above, each output pin may be connected to a corresponding one of the contact pads 150 via a corresponding one of the set of circuit traces 156 on the printed circuit board 120 . The microprocessor 190 may send a control signal to the contact pad 150 associated with the connector port 34 that receives the plug 220 via, for example, on one of the circuit traces 156 . The control signal passes through the contact pads 150 and over the ninth conductor 209 of the patch cord 200 (where the terminal block 32 provides the ground reference carried on the tenth conductor 210) to the plug on the far end of the patch cord 200. 220'. Since the plug 220' is inserted into the connector port 34' on one of the terminal blocks 32', the contacts 232', 234' on the plug 220' will be associated with the plug 220' inserted therein and located on the terminal block 32. ' contact pads 150', 152' of the connector port 34' on the printed circuit board 120'. These contact pads 150', 152' place the ninth and tenth conductors 209, 210 of the patch cord 200 in communication with the serial ID chip 180' so that control signals transmitted by the microprocessor 190 on the patch panel 32 Received by one of the serial ID chips 180' on the patch panel 32' that is associated with the connector port 34' on the patch panel 32' that houses the plug 220'.

Serial ID chips 180 , 180 ′ can draw their operating voltage on signal line input 209 . Thus, before the microprocessor 190 transmits the signal to the serial ID chip 180' via the ninth and tenth conductors 209, 210 of the patch cord 200, the microprocessor 190 may pull the voltage on the signal line 209 to, for example, 3 to 5 volts. This voltage can be used to power the serial ID chip 180'. Therefore, the serial ID chip 180' does not require a separate power source. As discussed herein, although providing power to the serial ID chip 180' may not be particularly difficult since it is mounted on the smart patch panel 32', when the serial ID chip is installed in a device such as a network device, adapter, wall jack The ability to power the serial ID chip from a remote location becomes even more important when connecting components and/or other devices or devices in the work area end-equipment.

When serial ID chip 180 ′ receives control signals from microprocessor 190 , it transmits responsive control signals back to microprocessor 190 via signal line 209 of patch cord 200 . The responsive control signal may include a unique identifier associated with the connector port 34' of the patch panel 32' into which the plug 220' of the patch cord 200 is inserted. The unique identifier may then be extracted by the microprocessor 190 from the responsive control signal. When the microprocessor 190 has identified the unique identifiers of each serial ID chip 180 on the patch panel 32, the microprocessor 190 can then transfer the unique identifiers of the two connector ports 34, 34' connected by the patch cord 200 Passed to rack manager 36 for entry in a database or patch cord connection table. Thus, the rack manager 36 on the equipment rack that includes the patch panel 32 can automatically determine and record the identifiers of the connector ports 34 , 34 ′ that are connected by the patch cord 200 . This information can be used to positively track patching connections between intelligent patch panels in the communication patching system 12 .

The above example illustrates how patch connections can be automatically traced between intelligent patch panels such as between patch panels 32 and 32'. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, wireless devices are provided which can be installed on network equipment (such as network adapters, routers, servers, etc.), wall panels and user terminal equipment (such as personal computers, printers, Internet phones, etc.). Source electronic label. These passive tags include serial ID chips that facilitate automatic tracking of patch cord and cable connectivity between smart patch panels and other devices in the network.

8 is a perspective view of a modular wall jack assembly 300 having a communication cable 400 terminated thereto, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Modular wall jack assembly 300 may be used to implement modular wall jack assembly 24 in FIGS. 1 and 7 , and communication cable 400 may be used to implement cable 28 in FIGS. 1 and 7 . FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of the modular wall jack assembly 300 of FIG. 8 . FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the modular wall jack assembly 300 of FIG. 8 . FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of the front printed circuit board 320 of the modular wall jack assembly 300 of FIG. 8 . FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of the rear printed circuit board 340 of the modular wall jack assembly 300 of FIG. 8 . 13 is a perspective view of the modular wall jack assembly 300 of FIG. 8 with the plug of a patch cord inserted into its wall jack. Finally, FIG. 14 is a partially cut away perspective view of a portion of a communication cable 400 attached to the modular wall jack assembly 300 of FIG. 8 .

As shown in FIG. 8 , modular wall jack assembly 300 includes frame 312 and modular wall jack 350 . One end of the communication cable 400 is terminated to the rear wire connection assembly of the modular wall jack 350 . The other end of the cable 400 (not shown in FIG. 8 ) may be terminated to the rear end of one of the connector ports 34 of the patch panel 32 . As shown in FIG. 14, the communication cable 400 includes eight insulated conductors 401-408 arranged as four differential twisted pairs 411-414 of conductors. The communication cable 400 may also include a splitter 415 that separates at least some of the differential pairs 411-414 from each other. In addition, ninth and tenth wires 409, 410 are included in the cable 400, which can be used to transmit signals to and from the serial ID chip 190 associated with the connector port 34 on the terminal block 32. The serial ID chip 190 transmits a signal associated with the connector port 34 in which the far end of the cable 400 terminates. The ninth wire 409 may be a signal carrying wire and the tenth wire 410 may be a ground wire. The cable 400 may have the same structure as the cable 218 of the patch cord 200 described above with reference to FIGS. 6A-6B , and thus further description of the cable 400 will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 8-10 , the wall jack assembly 300 includes a frame 312 , a front printed circuit board 320 and a rear printed circuit board 340 . The front printed circuit board 320 may be mounted, for example, on the front 314 of the frame 312 , while the rear printed circuit board 340 may be mounted, for example, on the back of the frame 312 . Frame 312 may comprise, for example, a plastic frame. As shown in FIG. 9 , a plug hole 362 is provided in the front face 314 of the frame 312 . Plug aperture 362 is configured to receive a plug of a mating patch cord (eg, patch cord 22 of FIGS. 1 and 7 ). A bezel 318 may also be mounted on the front 314 of the frame 312, for example. The flapper 318 (not shown in FIG. 9 but shown in FIG. 10 to illustrate the plug hole 362) may be biased by a spring 319 to hold the flapper 318 in place when no plug is received in the plug hole 362. The position of the plug hole 362 is covered. The baffle 318 can be moved up out of the passageway to gain access to the plug hole 362 .

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of the front printed circuit board 320 . As shown in FIG. 11 , the front printed circuit board 320 includes first and second contact pads 322 , 324 , an LED 326 and a bezel contact 328 . The front printed circuit board 320 also includes two metallized holes 330, each receiving a respective one of the two connection contacts 332 (connection contacts 332 are shown in FIG. 10). Printed circuit board traces 334 may be used to electrically connect the plated hole 330 to the first and second contact pads 322, 324, respectively, and to the LED 326.

The bezel contact 328 may include, for example, a contact pad connected to one of the conductive traces 334 on the front printed circuit board 320 . Bezel 318 may include metal contacts (not shown) that connect to, for example, end resistors (not shown) embedded in bezel 318 or to a secondary serial ID chip (also not shown). shown in the figure). An end resistor or a secondary serial ID chip in the bezel 318 can be used as a sensor that indicates if a patch cord is plugged into the modular wall jack 350 .

Specifically, as described above, the flapper 318 may be a spring loaded flapper that is biased to return to its normal normally closed position. However, when the patch cord is inserted into the modular wall jack 350, the plug on the patch cord holds the shutter 318 in its open position. When the baffle 318 is in its closed position over the plug hole 362, the contacts on the baffle 318 cooperate with the baffle contacts 328 on the front printed circuit board 320 to electrically connect, for example, the conductor 409 on the cable 400 to For example a secondary serial ID chip on or in bezel 318 . When the microprocessor 190 sends a signal to the modular wall jack assembly 300 via the conductor 409 of the cable 400, the response to whether the signal is received will be based on whether the shutter 318 is in its open position (in this case, the shutter 318). The plate contact 328 is open) or in its closed position (in which case the bezel contact 328 is connected to the secondary serial ID chip). A secondary serial ID chip mounted on or within the shutter 318 may include a code that may be communicated over a control channel to the microprocessor 190 that indicates to the microprocessor 190 that the shutter 318 is in its closed position (and thus the wall Jack assembly 350 is not used). Once the shutter 318 is open, the microprocessor 190 will be able to detect that the secondary serial ID chip is no longer connected to the control channel, and obtain this to indicate that the wall jack assembly 350 is in use (i.e., the patch cord is plugged into the modular wall jack 350). Thus, bezel 318 may be used in the manner described above with respect to the sensor indicating whether a patch cord is plugged into modular wall jack 350 . This may be beneficial, for example, because when the system senses that a patch cord has been newly plugged into a particular wall jack 350, the system can then pass the horizontal cable 400 attached to the wall jack 350 in the manner sought to be described herein. The control channels 409, 410 of the control signals are used to identify the terminal equipment connected to the modular wall jack 350 concerned by the patch cord.

Another benefit of providing the baffle 318 that acts as a sensor is that it allows the system to be a way to determine whether a patch cord is plugged into a particular modular wall jack 350, or even to determine common The patch cord 200 of 6B is the opposite of whether the patch cord is inserted into the jack of the device. In practice, it may be difficult to ensure that patch cords with the extra conductors 209, 210 and contacts 232, 234 are used in the work area, since users may plug in their own patch cords without system administrator authorization, Especially since users are often unaware of the special traceability provided by jacks, patch panels, patch cords and cables according to embodiments of the present invention. Thus, by providing wall jack assembly 300 including bezel 318, the system can at least Determine which wall jack assemblies 300 have patch cords plugged into them.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of the rear printed circuit board 340 . The rear printed circuit board 340 includes first and second contact pads 342 , 344 and two metallized holes 346 each receiving a corresponding one of the connection contacts 332 . Printed circuit board traces 348 may be used to electrically connect the plated holes 346 to the first and second contact pads 342, 344, respectively. As shown in FIG. 10 , connection contacts 332 extend between front printed circuit board 320 and rear printed circuit board 340 to provide an electrical connection therebetween. In some embodiments, the connection contacts 332 may include metal strips extending between the rear printed circuit board 340 and the front printed circuit board 320 . In some embodiments, these metal strips may have eye-of-needle ends at each end thereof to facilitate mounting of the connection contacts 332 in the plated holes 330 , 346 .

As shown in Figures 8 and 10, the modular jack 350 may comprise, for example, any RJ-45 jack. In the depicted embodiment, the jack 350 includes a jack frame 360 , a communication insert (which is not visible in the figure), an IDC housing 380 and a punch down cover 390 . As is known to those skilled in the art, socket housing 360 may comprise a plastic housing piece and may define plug hole 362 of socket 350 . Jack bracket 360 may have one or more attachment mechanisms, such as, for example, snap clips, which may be used to mount jack bracket 360 (and the remainder of jack 350 ) to frame 312 .

The communication insert (which is not visible in the figures) may include, for example, a printed circuit board on which are mounted a plurality of jack line contacts that serve as input contacts of the modular jack 350 . The printed circuit board may also have multiple output contacts (not visible in the figure), such as multiple IDCs, mounted thereon. Conductive traces (not visible) printed on one or more layers of the printed circuit board may be used to electrically connect each jack wire contact to a corresponding IDC of the plurality of IDCs. The printed circuit board may also include a plurality of circuit elements configured to reduce or eliminate crosstalk, improve return loss, and the like. Since various communication insert configurations are available and well known in the art, further description thereof will be omitted here. It will be appreciated that jacks that do not include a printed circuit board may also be used.

The IDC housing 380 may comprise a plastic housing sheet that covers and protects the IDCs, while providing access to the center portion of each IDC so that conductors from a communications cable, such as cable 400 of FIGS. 8 and 14 , may be inserted therein.

Punch down cover 390 may comprise a plastic cover sheet mountable on top of IDC housing 380 . The punch down cap 390 may be used to secure the insulated wires of the cable 400 within a respective one of the plurality of IDCs of the communications insert. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 8-13 , cover 390 includes first and second wire ends 392 , 394 operable to accommodate conductors 409 , 410 included in cable 400 . The wire ends 392, 394 may be wire ends that are crimped to be permanently crimped onto the conductors 409, 410, respectively, eg, using a special tool. The punch down cover 390 may also include first and second spring loaded pins 396, 398 electrically connected to the first and second wire ends 392, 394, respectively. As can be seen from FIGS. 8 , 10 and 12 , the first and second spring-loaded pins 396 , 398 can be configured to engage with the rear printed circuit board 340 when the stamped-down cover 390 is mounted on the IDC housing 380 . The first and second contact pads 342 , 344 cooperate to provide electrical paths connecting the conductors 409 , 410 included in the cable 400 to the rear printed circuit board 340 .

Serial ID chip 336 may be mounted on (or otherwise electrically connected to) one of front printed circuit board 320 or rear printed circuit board 340 . In the embodiment of the modular wall jack assembly 300 illustrated in FIGS. 8-13 , a serial ID chip 336 is mounted on the rear printed circuit board 340 . As shown in FIG. 12 , serial ID chip 336 is electrically connected to first and second contact pads 342 , 344 of rear printed circuit board 340 via conductive traces 338 , 348 . Thus, the wire ends 392, 394, spring loaded pins 396, 398, contact pads 342, 344 and conductive traces 338, 348 connect the ninth and tenth wires 409, 410 of the cable 400 to the serial ID chip 336, A control communication path from patch panel 32 to serial ID chip 336 is thereby provided. A power signal may be provided to serial ID chip 336 via ninth wire 409 and a ground reference may be provided to serial ID chip 336 via tenth wire 410 in the same manner as described above with reference to serial ID chip 180 ′. Accordingly, wall jack assembly 300 does not require a separate power source to power serial ID chip 336 .

As can be seen from FIGS. 10-12 , serial ID chip 336 is also connected to the front printed circuit board via traces 334 on front printed circuit board 320 , connection contacts 332 and conductive traces 338 on rear printed circuit board 340 Contact pads 322, 324 on 320. Contact pad 322 provides a power connection path and a data path to and from serial ID chip 336, while contact pad 324 provides a ground reference for serial ID chip 336. ground connection path.

13 is a perspective view of the modular wall jack assembly 300 of FIG. 8 with the plug 220 of the patch cord 200 of FIGS. 6A-6B inserted into the jack 350 . As shown in FIG. 13 , the monostilted spring-loaded contact pins 232 , 234 of the plug 220 are arranged so that they will contact the contact pads 322 , 324 when the plug 220 is fully inserted in the plug hole 362 . mechanical and electrical contact.

The modular wall jack assembly 300 of FIGS. 8-13 may operate in the following manner. As noted above, the distal end (not visible in FIG. 8 ) of the communication cable 400 terminates into the connector port 34 on one of the intelligent patch panels 32 of FIGS. 1-5 . Microprocessor 190 on wiring board 32 via (1) printed circuit board trace 156 (see FIG. 3 ), (2) contact pads 150, 152, (3) printed circuit board trace 160, (4) connection contact 129 (see FIG. 4), (5) printed circuit board traces 118 (see FIG. 4), (6) contact pads 112, 114 (see FIG. 4), (7) spring-loaded pins 70, 72 ( See FIG. 5 ) and (8) wire ends 66 , 68 (see FIG. 5 ) carry control signals to be delivered to conductors 409 , 410 of cable 400 . The control signal is then transmitted through the conductors 409 , 410 of the cable 400 , wherein the control signal is carried on conductor 409 and the ground reference is carried on conductor 410 . When the conductors 409, 410 of the cable 400 are terminated to the first and second wire ends 392, 394 of the cover 390 (see FIG. Two spring loaded pins 396,398. The control signal is then transmitted via spring-loaded pins 396, 398 to first and second contact pads 342, 344 on the rear printed circuit board 340 (see FIGS. 8 and 12 ), where the control signal passes through conductive traces 338, 348 to the serial ID chip 336 (see FIG. 12). Thus, a communication path is provided through which control signals may be communicated from the microprocessor 190 on the patch panel 32 to the serial ID chip 336 of the modular wall jack assembly 300 . As mentioned above, the microprocessor 190 can provide a voltage of, for example, 3 to 5 volts to the signal line 409 of the cable 400 so that the signal line 409 can also provide an operating voltage for powering the serial ID chip 336 . Therefore, the serial ID chip 336 does not have to draw power separately from another power source.

Therefore, the serial ID chip 336 of the analog wall jack assembly 300 can receive the control signal sent by the microprocessor 190 . In some embodiments, the microprocessor 190 on the terminal board 32 periodically transmits a signal to the serial ID chip 336 . In response to receiving such a signal, serial ID chip 336 may transmit a responsive signal to microprocessor 190 via conductor 409 of cable 400 . The responsive signal may include a unique identification number that has been previously programmed into serial ID chip 336 , as well as other information such as location information that may be programmed into serial ID chip 336 . Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the intelligent patching system can automatically confirm/determine the connectivity of the main cables extending between the intelligent patch panels and the horizontal cables extending from the patching system to the exit of the work area. In many wiring systems this information is currently manually entered into a system administrator database to facilitate automatic tracking of wiring/cable connections. However, according to embodiments of the present invention, the system can automatically discover the connectivity of one or both of the backbone cables and the horizontal cables, thereby eliminating the need to manually track and enter this data, and avoiding the need for such information to be entered. Data entry error into system administrator database.

In additional embodiments of the invention, the serial ID chip 336 may be mounted on or within the bezel 318, and in some embodiments, the aforementioned "secondary serial ID chip" that may be included in the bezel 318 may be omitted. In such an embodiment, the serial ID chip 336 could include the same information as discussed above, but would simply be mounted in an alternate location (ie, on or within the bezel 318). In such an embodiment, when the shutter 318 is in the closed position, the microprocessor 190 will be able to receive information stored in the serial ID chip 336 which will indicate that no patch cords are included in the wall jack 350 . When the shutter 318 is open so that a patch cord can be inserted into the jack 350, the microprocessor 190 will sense that the circuit is open, which can be interpreted as meaning the jack 350 is in use.

The ability to automatically determine the connectivity of backbone and/or horizontal cables utilizing methods and systems according to the present invention is particularly advantageous in patching systems that include consolidation points. As known to those skilled in the art, an "integration point" refers to a box or other device having a plurality of connector ports located in a work area. Multiple horizontal cables terminate to corresponding ones of the connector ports. Use integration points, for example, in work areas that include compartments. Since these compartments can be rearranged with some regularity, horizontal cables generally do not reach individual compartments, but instead reach integration points. The patch cords then travel from the consolidation point to the modular RJ-45 to RJ-45 wall jack assemblies housed in separate compartments. Thus, in this environment, horizontal cabling may include cables from one of the patch panels 32 to the consolidation point, and patch cords from the consolidation point to the modular RJ-45 wall jack 24 in the bay.

When a bay is reconfigured, the patch cords are unplugged from the consolidation points and then, once the bays are rearranged, the patch cords are reinserted into the consolidation points. When this occurs, it is common to change the connectivity from the connector port at the integration point to the modular wall jack assembly at the separate compartment. If a modular wall jack assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, the system can automatically determine the connection between each connector port at the integration point and the connector port on the modular wall jack assembly at the individual compartment. to automatically discover new "horizontal cable" topologies.

Information such as, for example, location information may be programmed into serial ID chip 336, as described above. According to an embodiment of the present invention, this information may be programmed into the serial ID chip 336 as follows. Typically, when installing the horizontal cable 400 connecting the connector ports 34 on the patch panel 32 to the modular wall jack assembly 300, the cable 400 is tested after installation to confirm that the differential pairs are properly terminated in the cable. 400 at both ends. This testing is typically performed by a technician who inserts a handheld test device into each modular wall jack assembly 300 and sends a test signal through the cable 400 . Thereafter, a second technician in the computer room monitors these test signals to confirm that each cable 400 has been properly terminated. According to embodiments of the present invention, conventional handheld test devices may be modified to include a pair of contacts configured to mate with contact pads 322 , 324 on modular wall jack assembly 300 . The handheld test device can be further modified to be able to transmit control signals to the serial ID chip 336 included on the modular wall jack assembly 300 . These control signals include information to be programmed into the serial ID chip 336 . Such information may include, for example, the location of modular wall jack assembly 300 (eg, office number and port number). Thus, during testing after cable installation, a technician can conveniently program the serial ID chip 336 on each modular wall jack assembly 300 with a unique identifier and/or location information.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned hand-held test device can be provided with an adapter built into the local positioning system capability, so that the position information can be determined automatically by the hand-held test device instead of having to be manually determined by a technician. Such adapters can further automate the process of storing location information in the serial ID chip. In other embodiments, a handheld test device may be provided with local positioning system capabilities built into the handheld device.

As noted above, each modular wall jack assembly 300 may include an LED 326 . These LEDs can be used to indicate different information.

In some embodiments, LED 326 may be used to provide link (circuit) status information to the technician. In many cases, offices and other areas within a building may include multiple workspace connector ports so that multiple devices (eg, computers and Internet phones) can be connected to the network. However, in some cases, due to the limited number of adapter ports, only a subset of the horizontal cables attached to these wall jacks will be connectable to the adapter ports. Therefore, it is often the case that only a subset of the modular wall jack assemblies in an office building can have full end-to-end connectivity with the connector ports on the network adapter.

A controller within the patching system such as, for example, the microprocessor 190 on the intelligent patch panel 32 or the CPU 38 on the rack manager 36 can be used to illuminate the LED 326 on the modular wall jack assembly 300 to indicate that the power from the wall jack 350 The status of the link (ie, the communication path or "circuit") to the network switch 42 . For example, in some embodiments, LED 326 of dedicated modular wall jack assembly 300 may be illuminated if the assembly 300 has full end-to-end connectivity to adapter port 44 . In other embodiments, if the assembly 300 has full end-to-end connectivity to the adapter port 44, only the LED 326 is illuminated and the adapter port 44 in question is enabled. In still other embodiments, the LED 326 will be illuminated in response to a work order requiring the modular wall jack assembly 300 to have an end device connected thereto. In this case, activation of LED 326 is used to direct the installer to plug the terminal device into the correct wall jack 350 . In some embodiments, multiple LEDs 326 (e.g., three LEDs with different colors) or multicolor LEDs 326 (i.e., a single chip comprising LEDs with different colors) may be provided on assembly 300, wherein each LED 326 of a different color Provides different classes of the multiple classes of information listed above. In other embodiments, the LED 326 may be illuminated in a different manner (e.g., a solid light indicates that the wall jack assembly 300 is connected to an enabled adapter port, while a blinking light indicates that the wall jack assembly 300 is enabled in the work order). The identified end device is to be connected to the component 300). In still other implementations, a help desk or other administrative support function may activate LED 326 to allow the user to verify that the patch cord connected to their computer (or other work area equipment) is connected to the correct wall jack 350 .

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, according to yet another embodiment, a status button 327 may be mounted on the front printed circuit board 320, the status button 327 being configured such that when activated (eg, pressed), it causes LED 326 indicates the status of the link or "circuit" between connector port 350 and the network adapter. For example, if a communication path exists between connector port 350 and an enabled connector port on the network adapter, LED 326 may emit a steady stream of light as long as status button 327 is activated. On the other hand, if a communication path exists between connector port 350 and a non-enabled connector port on the network adapter, LED 326 may flash whenever status button 327 is activated. If there is no communication path between connector port 350 and the connector port on the network adapter, LED 326 may remain off when status button 327 is activated. Although not shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 , a circuit may be provided on the front printed circuit board 320 that closes the electrical path 334 between the LED 326 and the connection contact 330 when the status button 327 is activated. It will also be appreciated that the functionality of status button 327 may be implemented in many other ways.

Track button 130 on patch panel 32 can also be used to activate LED 326 on modular wall jack assembly 300 . Specifically, in some embodiments, when a technician presses one of the trace buttons 130 associated with a particular connector port 34 on the patch panel 32 , a signal may be transmitted to the microprocessor 190 . In some embodiments, in response to receiving the signal, the microprocessor 190 may send a signal to the LED 326 via the control channels 409 , 410 of the communication cable 400 . This signal causes LED 326 to light up. This allows a first technician in the room and a second technician moving from work area exit to work area exit to manually confirm horizontal cable continuity without the need for handheld test equipment.

It will also be appreciated that serial ID chips and control channel technology according to embodiments of the present invention may also be used to automatically discover backbone cable connections extending between intelligent patch panels of a communication patching system. Specifically, after the backbone cable is installed, but before any wiring occurs, the system software can instruct the microprocessor on each intelligent patch panel to connect (individually) to the control channel associated with each connector port on the patch panel , in order to read back the unique identifier of any Serial ID chip connected via each control channel. When the microprocessor on the first intelligent patch panel starts this poll operation, if a given connector port on the first intelligent patch panel is connected to another connector port on the second intelligent patch panel via a trunk cable , the unique identifier associated with the serial ID chip on the second terminal board will be returned to the microprocessor on the first terminal board. This unique identifier would include, for example, the identity of the second patch panel and the port number, allowing system software to automatically record the connection. Today, this backbone cabling connectivity information is manually entered into system control software at the same time the wiring system is first installed, a potentially time-consuming and error-prone process.

The above example illustrates how horizontal cable connections can be automatically traced/mapped between an intelligent patch panel such as panel 32 and modular wall jack assembly 300 . According to still further embodiments of the present invention, the ability to automatically track cable/wiring connections can be extended even further to work area equipment. This can be done by using a work area device such as a computer, printer, fax machine, Internet phone, IP camera, wireless access point, medical device, notebook computer, etc. that can be installed adjacent to one or more It can be realized by the passive electronic tag of each connector port. Passive electronic tags can also be installed on network adapters and/or other network equipment. As discussed below, through the use of these passive electronic tags, patching systems according to embodiments of the present invention can automatically monitor, in real time, end-to-end connectivity, eg, from each adapter port to terminal equipment within the work area.

Specifically, FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a passive electronic tag 500 that may be mounted on work area equipment to allow traceability of wiring connections to all pathways to such equipment, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The passive tag 500 depicted in FIG. 15 includes a double-sided printed circuit board 510 having a front side 512 and a back side 514 and a serial ID chip 520 . A serial ID chip 520 is mounted on the rear side 514 of the printed circuit board 510 (and is therefore depicted using dotted lines in FIG. 15 ). On the front side 512 of the printed circuit board 510 a pair of contact pads 521 , 522 are provided. A first trace 523 connects contact pad 521 to a first input port on serial ID chip 520 , while a second trace 524 connects contact pad 522 to a second port on serial ID chip 520 . Contact pad 521 provides a power connection path and a data path for serial ID chip 520 , while contact pad 522 provides a ground connection for serial ID chip 520 . An adhesive layer (not shown) may be included on the rear side 514 of the printed circuit board 510, which may be used to mount the label 500 to a workspace device such as, for example, the computer 20 of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the tag 500 of FIG. 15 installed on a workspace device 570 that includes a single connector port 580 . FIG. 16 also depicts plug 220 ′ on the distal end of patch cord 200 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B ), aligned for insertion into connector port 580 of device 570 .

As shown in Figure 16, the label 500 is adhesively mounted on the work area device 570 above the connector port 580 so that when the plug 220' is inserted in the connector port 580, the plug 220' Single stilt spring-loaded contact pins 232', 234' mate with contact pads 521, 522 of tag 500, respectively. The length and location of the contact pins 232', 234' on the patch cord 200 can be designed so that the contact pins 232', 234 make mechanical and electrical contact with the tag 500, but do not make contact with tags 500 that do not include wireless devices according to the present invention. Make mechanical or electrical contact with the workspace equipment of the source tag.

The tag 500 of Figures 15 and 16 may operate in the following manner. As noted above, plug 220 on the distal end of patch cord 200 is insertable within modular wall jack assembly 300 (see FIGS. 8-13 ). When the microprocessor 190 on the terminal block 32 transmits a control signal to the rear printed circuit board 340 of the modular wall jack assembly 300 so that the control signal is provided to the serial ID chip 336 in the manner described above, the control signal will also pass through the rear PCB 340. Trace 348 on printed circuit board 340, connection contact 332, conductive trace 334 and contact pads 322, 324 on front printed circuit board 320, conductors 209, 210 on patch cord 200, conductors on conductive label 500 The contact pads 521 , 522 , and the conductive traces 523 , 524 on the printed circuit board 510 of the tag 500 communicate to the serial ID chip 520 on the tag 500 . Specifically, the control signal is carried on a conductive path comprising conductor 409, contact pads 332, 521 and conductor 209, while the ground reference is carried on another conductive path comprising conductor 410, contact pads 334, 522 and conductor 210. superior. In this manner, there is provided a data signal, ground reference, and operating voltage for powering the serial ID chip 520 from the microprocessor 190 on the terminal block 32 to the tag 500 mounted on the work area equipment. The conductive path of the serial ID chip 520.

In response to receiving control signals transmitted by microprocessor 190, serial ID chip 520 may send responsive control signals back to microprocessor 190 over the same control channel. The responsive control signal may include a unique identification number that has been previously programmed into the serial ID chip 520, such as, for example, the type of device to which the tag 500 is applied (e.g., desktop computer, notebook computer, Internet phone, access point, IP camera, medical device, etc.) and/or the MAC identification number of the terminal device 570. Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the smart wiring system can automatically determine the identity of the actual terminal equipment located in the work area.

As discussed in co-pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/545,096, filed August 21, 2009, embodiments of the present invention may further include wireless Source Electronic Tag 600, of which the entire contents of US Patent Application Serial No. 12/545,096 are incorporated herein by reference. For example, FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a passive electronic tag 600 that may be mounted on a network adapter. The portion of the passive tag 600 depicted in FIG. 17 includes a total of six serial ID chips 620, 630, 640, 620', 630', 640'.

As shown in FIG. 17 , label 600 includes a double-sided printed circuit board 610 having a front side 612 and a back side 614 and an adhesive layer 650 . The six serial ID chips 620 , 630 , 640 , 620 ′, 630 ′, 640 ′ are mounted on the back side 614 of the printed circuit board 610 in two rows. A first pair of contact pads 621 , 622 associated with a first serial ID chip 620 is provided on the front side 612 of the printed circuit board 610 . A first trace 623 connects contact pad 621 to a first input port on serial ID chip 620 , while a second trace 624 connects contact pad 622 to a second port on serial ID chip 620 . Also provided on the front side 612 of the printed circuit board 610 are additional pairs of contact pads 631, 632; 641, 642; 621', 622'; 631', 632'; , 634; 643, 644; 623', 624'; 633', 634'; 643', 644' in order to reserve the five serial ID chips described in FIG. Adhesive layer 650 may include a thin substrate with adhesive applied to each side thereof, which is mounted on backside 614 of printed circuit board 610 . The adhesive layer 650 may include a corresponding opening 660 for each serial ID chip. By mounting the serial ID chip in the opening 660 in the adhesive layer 650 on the back side of the printed circuit board 610, it is possible to protect the serial ID chip from accidental damage and possibly reduce the number of components contained on the front side of the printed circuit board. number. Although not shown in FIG. 17, printed circuit board 610 may include LEDs for each connector port. These LEDs may operate in the same manner as previously described for LED 326, and therefore will not be described further.

18 is a perspective view of the label 600 of FIG. 17 installed on a network device 700 including a top row 720 with connector ports 721 , 722 , 723 and a bottom row 730 with connector ports 731 , 732 , 733 . FIG. 18 also depicts two of the patch cords 200 of FIGS. 6A and 6B with plugs 220 aligned for insertion into connector ports 721 and 731 . As shown in FIG. 18, the label 600 is adhesively mounted between the two rows 720, 730 of connector ports. The connector ports 721 , 722 , 723 in the top row 720 are rotated 180 degrees relative to the connector ports 731 , 732 , 733 in the bottom row.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the plug 220 attached to the patch cord 200 is inserted into the connector ports 721, 731 on the network adapter 700, the spring-loaded contact pins (for example, on the plug 220 Pins 232 , 234 ) are aligned with corresponding pairs of pairs of contact pads on tag 700 (eg, contact pads 621 , 622 ). The contact pins on the plug are sized and positioned so that they make mechanical and electrical contact with the tag 600 , but not with other network devices that do not include the passive tag 600 .

The tag 600 of Figures 17 and 18 may operate in the following manner. In the following description, the network adapter 700 (only part of which is shown in FIG. 18 ) can replace one of the adapters 42 of FIG. 1, and the patch cord 200 can replace the patch cord 50 of FIG. Wire 200 connects connector port 721 of network adapter 700 to connector port 34 on one of smart patch panels 32 of FIG. 1 .

18, when the plug 220' (not visible in FIG. 18) on the distal end of the upper patch cord 200 is inserted into the connector port 34 of the patch panel 32, the detector 170 on the patch panel 32 detects the plug. 220', then the microprocessor 190 on the patch panel 32 sends the signal on the conductor 209 of the patch cord 200 and the ground reference on the conductor 210 of the patch cord 200. Once the plug 220 on the other end of the patch cord 200 has been inserted into the connector port 721 on the network adapter 700 (see FIG. 18 ), the contacts 232 and 234 make contact with the contact pads 621 and 622 on the label 600. mechanical and electrical contact. Accordingly, the signal and ground references are coupled from conductors 209 and 210, respectively, to contact pins 232 and 234 of plug 220, where they are routed to contact pads 621 and 622, respectively, on tag 600. The signal from conductor 209 is passed on trace 623 to serial ID chip 620 associated with connector port 721 , while the ground reference from conductor 210 is provided to serial ID chip 620 via trace 624 . The microprocessor 190 can also provide a voltage of, for example, 3 to 5 volts for the signal line 209 , so that the signal line 209 can also provide an operating voltage for powering the serial ID chip 620 . Therefore, the serial ID chip 620 does not need to draw power from the network device 700 alone.

Once the plug 220 is inserted into the connector port 721 , the serial ID chip 620 may receive a control signal transmitted by the microprocessor 190 . In some embodiments, upon detection of insertion of a patch cord into one of the connector ports 34 on the patch panel 32, the microprocessor 190 may periodically transmit a control signal until such time is received in response ( or until the timeout period is reached). In response to receiving such a control signal, serial ID chip 620 may send a responsive control signal to microprocessor 190 via conductor 209 of patch cord 200 . The responsive control signal may include a unique identification number that has been previously programmed into the serial ID chip 620 . Thus, the smart patching system can determine patch connectivity with respect to patch cords that are connected between standard network equipment such as the smart patching system's network adapters and patch panels because passive tags such as tag 600 are available It is designed to provide intelligent wiring performance for this standard network equipment.

As noted above, a trace button 130 may be provided adjacent to each connector port 34 located on the patch panel 32 . When a patch cord 200 is plugged into a particular connector port 34, its associated trace button 130 can be used to quickly and easily identify that the far end of the patch cord 200 is plugged into another device such as a network adapter 42 which connector port on the This feature can be helpful because in many cases a large number of patch cords run between adjacent equipment racks, and it can be difficult to visually or manually trace patch cord connectivity.

The line trace feature can be operated as follows. When a technician presses one of the tracking buttons 130 on the terminal block 32 , a signal can be sent to the microprocessor 190 . In some embodiments, in response to receiving the signal, the microprocessor 190 may send a control signal to the LED associated with the connector port through the conductors 209, 210 of the patch cord 200, where the other end of the patch cord is plugged into the Within the connector port (in a cross-connect patch system, the LED could be on another patch panel 32', or in an interconnected patch system the LED could be on a passive label mounted on the network adapter 42). 600 on). This signal causes the LED to illuminate, allowing the technician to quickly and easily identify in which connector port the other end of the patch cord 200 is plugged. Thus, the trace button 130 and LED can be used to precisely trace any patch cord connected between the first patch panel 32 and the second patch panel 32', or the network adapter 42 equipped with a passive tag according to an embodiment of the present invention. The endpoint of the line.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , it will be appreciated that the network adapter 42 is typically connected by another set of patch cords 54 to a network router and server 46 or other end network equipment. According to embodiments of the present invention, passive tags such as tag 500 of FIGS. 15-16 may be installed near connector ports on these end network devices. Therefore, the patching system can collect identification information (eg, MACID) for end network devices in the same manner as it collects such identification information for end devices in the work area, the only difference is that the control communication path to end network devices travels through such as installed The passive tag of the tag 600 on the network adapter, while the control communication path to the terminal equipment in the work area typically runs through a modular wall jack assembly such as the assembly 300 described above.

It will be appreciated that there are various workspace terminal devices and network terminal devices. Therefore, many different label designs may be required, with each label designed to fit on a specific device. For example, a first label design may be provided that is configured for use on computers, Internet phones, printers, fax machines, PBXs, PDUs, UPS, etc. that have very few connector ports (e.g., 1-3 connector ports) . A second label design is available for use with network equipment such as adapters and servers that have a single row of RJ-45 connector ports or that have multiple rows of connector ports where all connector ports have the same direction. A third label design may be provided that is configured for use on network equipment having pairs of rows of connector ports where the connector ports in adjacent rows are rotated 180 degrees relative to each other (as shown in Figure 18 above). Multiple additional label designs are also available.

19 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically tracing a communication cable connection between a first connector port of a patch panel and a second connector port such as, for example, a work area modular wall jack assembly. As shown in FIG. 19, operations may begin when a first end of a data communication channel of a communication cable is terminated into a first connector port (block 750). A data communication channel may include, for example, a differential pair of wires such as wires 401 and 402 of communication cable 400 as described above. The first connector port may comprise, for example, connector port 34 on patch panel 32 and may be implemented as an RJ-45 jack such as jack 60 described above, for example. In such an embodiment, the wires 401 , 402 forming the data communication channel may be terminated into corresponding wire connection terminals of the RJ-45 jack 60 . It will be appreciated that in such an embodiment the cable generally includes four data communication channels and all four data communication channels will be terminated into the wire connection assembly of jack 60 . It will also be appreciated that the connector ports may be fiber optic adapters or other connector ports other than RJ-45 jacks.

Next, the first and second conductors forming the individual controls are electrically connected to a microprocessor associated with the first terminal block (block 755). In some embodiments, this may include terminating the conductors 409, 410 of a communications cable, such as the cable 400 described above, into the wire ends 66, 68 of an RJ-45 jack 60 serving as the first connector port (see FIGS. attached above instructions). A second end of the data communication channel of the communication cable may be terminated into a second connector port (block 760). The second connector port may comprise, for example, a modular wall jack assembly such as assembly 300 described above with reference to FIGS. 8-13.

As further shown in FIG. 19, the first and second conductors forming the independent control channel may be electrically connected to an integrated circuit chip associated with the second connector port (block 765). In some embodiments, the integrated circuit chip may include a serial ID chip such as, for example, the serial ID chip 336 described above. In some embodiments, this connection may be made by terminating the conductors 409, 410 of a communication cable, such as the cable 400 described above, into the wire ends 392, 394 of the RJ-45 jack 350 serving as the second connector port. Once this connection is made, a bias voltage may be applied to the first conductor (eg, conductor 409 ) of the independent control channel of the communication cable to power the integrated circuit chip associated with the second connector port (block 770 ). Thereafter, the first signal may be communicated to an integrated circuit chip associated with the second connector port on a separate control channel of the communication cable (block 775). Thereafter, a second signal may be received from the integrated circuit chip over a separate control channel of the communication cable in response to the first signal (block 780), wherein the second signal includes information about the second connector port. In this manner, the system can automatically trace horizontal cable connections between the first connector port and the second connector port on the patch panel by receiving identification information associated with the second connector port.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically discovering backbone cables between patch panels according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 28, a first patch panel may be selected in the communication patching system to begin operation (block 1000). Thereafter, a controller, such as a microprocessor, on the selected patch panel sequentially queries the first of the control channels on the selected patch panel (block 1005). As noted above, a control channel can be associated with each connector port on a selected patch panel. Such interrogation may include transmitting control signals on a control channel. If the connector port associated with the control channel is connected to a connector port on another patch panel via a backbone cable according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control signal will activate the serial ID chip associated with that remote connector port. If this occurs, the remote serial ID chip will transmit a message on the control channel that includes the unique identifier associated with the connector port on the remote patch panel (e.g., the MACID of the remote patch panel and the port number of the connector port). Responsive control signals.

As shown in Figure 28, if such a responsive control signal is received (block 1010), the connection between the connector port on the selected patch panel and the connector port on the remote patch panel may be automatically entered into the connectivity database in (block 1015). After the entry of connectivity information occurs (if any), a determination is made as to whether all control channels on the selected patch panel have been queried (block 1020). If not, operation returns to block 1005 so that the next control channel on the selected patch panel is queried and the connectivity of any backbone cables associated with that control channel is found and recorded. Once all control channels on the selected patch panel have been queried, a determination is made as to whether the above query operation has been performed on all patch panels in the patching system (block 1025). If they have not, a different patch panel is selected (block 1030 ), and operation returns to block 1005 . Once the query operation described above has been performed on all patch panels in the patch system (block 1025), the operation may end when the backbone cable connectivity has been fully found.

Fig. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically identifying a terminal device connected to a local area network according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 20, operation may begin by transmitting a first control signal over a control channel from a first connector port on a patch panel through at least a communication cable, a second connector port, and a patch cord to a An integrated circuit chip on a terminal device (block 800). In response to the first control signal, a second control signal is received from the integrated circuit chip over the control channel, the second signal including identification information for the terminal device (block 805). In some embodiments, the integrated circuit chip may be a first serial ID chip, and the identification information may include MACID, serial number, asset tag, or other identification information.

In some embodiments, the second connector port may include: (1) a second serial ID chip electrically connected to the control channel, and/or (2) configured to detect when a patch cord is inserted into the second connector port sensor inside. In such an implementation, the first control signal may be communicated in response to determining that a patch cord is inserted into the second connector port. The above method may also include the step of powering the integrated circuit chip through the first conductive path of the control channel such that the voltage is sufficient to power the integrated circuit chip.

21A-21D are schematic block diagrams illustrating communication links included in patching systems according to various embodiments of the invention. In particular, Figure 21A illustrates a communication link from a network switch to terminal equipment within a work area that may be used, such as in an office building environment with an interconnected wiring system. As shown in FIG. 21A , a passive tag, such as tag 600 including a serial ID chip 620 , is mounted near a connector port (not shown) on a network adapter, such as adapter 42 . A patch cord, such as patch cord 200 , is used to connect the connector port on network adapter 42 to connector port 34 (not shown) on intelligent patch panel 32 . Also provided on the intelligent patch panel 32 is a serial ID chip 180 associated with the connector port 34 that receives the patch cord 200 . A cable such as cable 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to the rear wire assembly of the connector port 34 on the intelligent patch panel 32 . The other end of the cable 400 is attached to the rear wire assembly of the wall mount modular jack assembly 300 . Wall mount modular jack assembly 300 includes a third serial ID chip 336 . Another patch cord 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention is used to connect the wall mount modular jack assembly 300 to a connector port (not shown) of a terminal device such as, for example, a computer 20 in the work area. A passive tag such as a tag 500 including a fourth serial ID chip 520 according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed near a connector port on the workspace terminal device 20 . As mentioned above, due to the above arrangement, it is possible to automatically monitor and track the end-to-end connectivity from the connector port on the network adapter 42 to the connector port on the work area terminal device 20 in real time.

21B illustrates communication links that may be included when a system according to an embodiment of the invention is implemented in a data center environment with an interconnected wiring system. As shown in FIG. 21B, the connectivity may be the same as that shown in FIG. 21A above, except for the following two differences. First, in a data center environment, connections to terminal equipment are typically made through connector ports on the smart patch panel 32, as opposed to wall-mounted modular jack assemblies 300, as is the case in an office building environment. . Secondly, in the data center environment, terminal equipment generally includes servers containing passive tags and serial ID chips, data storage devices, environmental monitoring devices, etc., to replace work such as computers or printers in such situations in the office building environment area terminal equipment.

Figure 21C illustrates communication lines that may be included when a system according to an embodiment of the present invention is implemented in an office building environment using a cross-connect patching system. As shown in FIG. 21C , a passive tag such as tag 600 including serial ID chip 620 is mounted on network adapter 42 near a connector port (not shown). A patch cord such as patch cord 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention is used to connect the connector port on the network adapter 42 to the rear conductor of the connector port 34 (not shown) on the first intelligent patch panel 32 Assembly (note that only the end of the patch cord that plugs into a connector port on the network adapter will include a plug end). Disposed on the first smart patch panel 32 is a second serial ID chip 180 associated with the connector port 34 receiving the patch cord 200 . A second patch cord 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention is used to connect the connector port 34 on the first intelligent patch panel 32 to the connector port 34' (not shown) on the second intelligent patch panel 32'. A third serial ID chip 180' is provided on the second intelligent patch panel 32', which is associated with the connector port 34' which receives the patch cord. A cable such as cable 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to the rear wire assembly of the connector port 34' on the second smart patch panel 32'. The other end of the cable 400 is attached to the rear lead wire assembly of a wall mount modular jack assembly such as assembly 300 . Wall mount modular jack assembly 300 includes a fourth serial ID chip 336 . Another patch cord 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention is used to connect the wall mount modular jack assembly 300 to a connector port (not shown) on a terminal device such as, for example, a computer 20 in the work area. A passive tag such as the tag 500 including the fifth serial ID chip 520 according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed near a connector port on the workspace terminal device 20 . As mentioned above, due to the above arrangement, it is possible to automatically monitor and track the end-to-end connectivity from the connector port on the network adapter 42 to the connector port on the work area terminal device 20 in real time.

Figure 2 ID illustrates communication links that may be included when a system according to an embodiment of the present invention is implemented in a data center environment with a cross-connect patching system. As shown in Figure 21D, the connectivity may be the same as that shown in Figure 21C above, except for the following two differences. First, in a data center environment, connections to end equipment are typically made through connector ports on smart patch panels, as opposed to wall-mounted modular jack assemblies, as is the case in office building environments, and Accordingly, the wall mount jack assembly 300 of FIG. 21C is replaced in FIG. 21D with a third smart patch panel 32″. Second, in a data center environment, terminal equipment typically includes servers, Routers, etc., to replace work area terminal equipment such as computers or printers in this case in an office building environment.

Figure 22 illustrates a modular wall jack assembly 820 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 22 , assembly 820 may be substantially the same as previously described assembly 300, except that a stuffer cap 390 of assembly 300 consists of a stuffer cap 830 including conductor paths 832,834 and a stuffer cap including a pair of IDCs 836,838. Rear printed circuit board 340 instead. When the technician terminates the cable 400 to the jack 350 of the jack assembly 820 of FIG. inch. The extensions of conductors 409, 410 are then snapped into conductor paths 832, 834, respectively. The conductor paths 832 , 834 may include one or more protrusions 835 that hold the respective conductors 409 , 410 in place within the conductor paths 832 , 834 . The ends of the conductors 409 , 410 may then be terminated into IDCs 836 , 838 , respectively, to provide an electrical connection between the conductors 409 , 410 and the back printed circuit board 340 . This design allows for a more simplified stuffed cover 830 that can be injection molded, although it may require a more complex process to cut off the cable 400 .

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, multiple terminal devices on the same channel can be tracked. In particular, some workspace terminal devices, such as Internet phones, may include bridge ports. An example of such a device is illustrated in Figure 23, which shows how a work area computer 20 is connected to a modular wall jack assembly 300 via two patch cords 200 and an Internet phone 840 comprising a local area network (" LAN") connector port 842 and a "PC" connector port 844. A passive "bridge" tag 846 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the Internet phone 840 near the two connector ports 842,844. Bridge tag 846 includes a printed circuit board 848 , a single serial ID chip 850 , a pair of contact pads 852 over connector port 842 and a pair of contact pads 854 over connector port 844 . The contact pads 852 above the LAN connector port 842 are electrically connected via the printed circuit board 848 to corresponding contact pads 854 above the "PC" connector port 844, thereby providing access to the conductors 209, 210 of the first patch cord 200. The communication path of the conductors 209, 210 of the second patch cord 200 that connects the modular wall jack assembly 300 to the LAN connector port 842 on the Internet phone 840, the second patch cord 200 The PC connector port 844 on the Internet phone 840 is connected to the computer 20. In this way, control communications can be communicated to the passive tag 500 on the computer 20 via the Internet phone 840 . The serial ID chips 850, 520 on the bridge tag 846 and the passive tag 500 can in turn respond to control communications transmitted over the conductors 209, 210 on the first and second patch cords 200, allowing the system to automatically track The jack assembly 300 is connected to a plurality of workspace terminal devices (ie, the Internet phone 840 and the computer 20) of the network.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, network security can be improved by using a passive tag 500 with a serial ID chip 520 installed on a terminal device. Currently, MACID filtering is often used to prevent unauthorized access to the network by end devices. Due to MACID filtering, the connector ports on the network adapter can be configured to only allow MACIDs within a certain range. If an end device with a MACID outside the authorized range attempts to connect to the network via a network adapter port, the connector port is automatically closed and the system administrator is notified. The system administrator can then determine whether the end device should be given access to the network, and if the end device should be allowed access, can reprogram the connector port on the adapter to accept the end device's MACID. Network access control technology can also be used instead of MAC filtering to enforce the company's network security policy for accessing the network.

As previously discussed, according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to automatically recognize the MACID of a terminal device connected to a network by mounting a passive tag such as the tag 500 with a serial ID chip 520 on the terminal device. In some embodiments, unused network adapters can be set to a disabled state. When the system discovers that a new end device has connected to the network, the system can determine the MACID of the end device and compare the MACID to the list of approved devices. If the MACID is included in the approved list, the system then enables the adapter port, providing the end device with access to the network. In this way, the network automatically provides access to only approved devices, thereby providing enhanced network security compared to current MACID filtering or network access control techniques. In some embodiments, if the MACID of the terminal device is on the authorized list of MACIDs, then the adapter port will be automatically enabled. In other embodiments, the adapter port can be automatically enabled for any device that has a passive tag with a serial ID chip on it, regardless of the specific MACID of the end device. The ability to only enable specific connector ports on the network adapter when it detects that an end device has been connected to the connector port (via the cable and intermediate jack) can lead to power savings, especially in a data center environment. Additionally, communication systems according to embodiments of the present invention also provide the ability to set network access policies based on the physical location of devices attempting to connect to the network. This performance is usually not available using conventional MAC filtering or network access control techniques.

Additionally, since the system can track the MACID or other identifying information associated with an end device, this identifying information can be used to restrict certain devices' access to specific resources within the network. MACID or other information stored on a serial ID chip provided on a passive tag mounted on the end device can also be used to identify specific services that need to be provided to the connected device. The system can be automatically reconfigured to assign the required service to the adapter port to which the end device is connected. For example, Internet telephony generally requires access to Voice over Internet Protocol ("VOIP") services. When an Internet phone is detected via, for example, MACID, that an Internet phone has been connected to a particular adapter port, the system can cause a virtual local area network ("VLAN") to provide VOIP service to the identified adapter port. Thus, by automatically tracking the MACID of an end device, the system can be configured to automatically provision certain services to the connector ports on the network adapter in response to the connection of the end device to the network, thereby avoiding having to perform such provisioning manually .

24 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically servicing connector ports on a network adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 24, operations may begin with the system automatically identifying an end device connected to the network adapter via a communication channel (block 852). This can be achieved, for example, using the methods and systems described above that allow the system to automatically identify workspace end devices. Next, in some implementations, a determination may be made as to whether the identified end device is authorized to access the network adapter (block 855). If not, the operation may end. If the terminal device is authorized for access in block 855, the connector port on the network adapter may be automatically enabled (block 860). Next, services that should be provided to the terminal device may be automatically identified (block 865). This can be achieved, for example, by referring to a database identifying specific services to be assigned to specific types of equipment (for example, VOIP service for Internet telephony), specific services to be allocated to specific devices, specific services to be allocated to A specific service for a device in a building (for example, providing access to a secure server to a computer located in a secure part of a building) or some combination of the above. Thereafter, the identified service may be automatically provided to the connector port on the network adapter.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of automatically enabling a connector port on a network adapter is provided. Figure 25 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of these methods. As shown in FIG. 25, operations may begin with the system automatically identifying end devices connected to the network adapter (block 875). Thereafter, it is automatically determined whether the identified end device is authorized to access the network adapter (block 880). If not, the operation may end. If so, the connector port on the network adapter can be automatically enabled (block 885), and the operation can then end.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the above-described modular wall jack assembly 300 may be used to facilitate the management of network changes ordered by paper or electronic work orders. For example, when a computer or other device is to be installed in an office of an office building, a work order may be generated that requires an administrator to: (1) Complete the connection of the modular wall jack in the office to the network switch wiring connections to the connector ports on the network adapter, (2) enabling the connector ports on the network adapter, and (3) preparing any required services for the connector ports on the network adapter. In many cases, offices may have multiple modular wall jacks (eg, two to six wall jacks mounted on one or two panels). Once the network adapter is connected, enabled, and ready, the administrator (or system) can light the LED (or activate some other indicator) associated with the modular wall jack in the office, which has the ability to The physical connectivity of the connector ports on the network adapter to direct the end user or technician to the appropriate modular wall jack that should be connected to the computer via a patch cord. LEDs are illuminated by biasing a control channel extending from a connector port on a network adapter through a patch cord to a connector port on a patch panel at a voltage suitable for activating the LED, and passing The cable extends to a modular wall jack.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention, a modular wall jack assembly 900 comprising a plurality of modular wall jacks 910 is provided. FIG. 26 is a schematic front view of one such assembly 900 . As shown in FIG. 26, each modular wall jack 910 may have a pair of contacts and an LED 930, and may otherwise be configured similar to the modular wall jack assembly 300 of FIGS. Holes 910 are installed in each assembly 900 . In addition, a tracking button 920 may also be provided in the panel 902 . Tracking button 920 may be mounted on a common printed circuit board 915 that acts as a front printed circuit board for each modular wall jack 910 . In some embodiments, the trace button 920 can be used to light an LED 930 associated with a modular wall jack 910 that has connectivity to an enabled network adapter to direct the end user to the terminal A device is connected to the correct one of the plurality of modular wall jacks 910 . In particular, when the operator presses the track button 920 , a signal is sent to the microprocessor 190 on the terminal block 32 . Microprocessor 190 will illuminate LEDs 930 associated with one or all of modular jacks 910 that have connectivity to enabled connector ports on the network adapter.

The LED 326 provided on the work area modular wall jack assembly can also be used to facilitate unscheduled connectivity changes in the work area. For example, an end user may bring a personal laptop to work and need to connect the laptop to a network. To achieve this, end users can contact a computer help desk or computer administrator and ask for web access. In response to such a request, the network administrator may enable the network adapter and provide a wired connection from the adapter to a modular wall jack in the end user's office. Once this is done, the administrator can remotely light the LED 326 associated with the particular modular jack in the office that has been connected to the adapter. Similarly, in some embodiments, a trace button (not shown in FIGS. 8-13 ) may be provided on the front panel of the modular wall jack assembly 300, activation of which may automatically illuminate the LED 326 on jack 350 of the adapter port.

As previously discussed, in some embodiments of the invention, multiple intelligent patch panels may be connected to the same end-to-end control channel, such as between a network adapter and a modular wall jack assembly. Sometimes even between terminal network devices such as servers and workspace terminal devices such as personal computers or printers. This can be seen, for example, with reference to FIG. 7, which shows how the work computer 20 communicates via a communication path through the connector port 34 of the first intelligent patch panel 32 and through the connector port 34' of the second intelligent patch panel 32'. Connect to web server 46. If both intelligent patch panels 32, 32' are connected to the same end-to-end control channel, such as between the computer 20 and the web server 46, large and potentially disruptive electrical currents can flow across the control channel. channel ground wire flow.

In particular, as previously discussed with reference to FIG. 3 , each smart patch panel 32, 32' can connect the ground wire of each serial ID chip on the panel to the microprocessor 190 or a printed circuit board mounted on the patch panel 32, 32'. A local ground reference anywhere on the circuit board 120 . If there is any change in the local ground reference, current will flow across the ground wire of the control channel due to this potential difference. When patch panels 32, 32' are mounted on different equipment racks powered by separate power supply units, localized ground reference differences can easily arise which can create very high and potentially disruptive ground flow across the control channel. current.

Figure 27 is an enlarged schematic front view of a portion of a modified printed circuit board 120' for the smart patch panel 32 of Figures 1-2. Front printed circuit board 120 ′ includes a plurality of connector port openings 126 each providing access to a corresponding connector port 34 of terminal block 32 . A trace button 130, LED 140, a pair of contact pads 150, 152, a detector 170, an emitter 172, and a serial ID chip 180 are mounted on the front printed circuit board 120 above or below each of the connector port openings 126, A single microprocessor 190 is also mounted on the printed circuit board 120'. As with printed circuit board 120, a first set of printed circuit board traces 171 is provided, each trace 171 is connected to a corresponding detector 170, and a second set of printed circuit board traces 154 is provided, each trace 154 will contact the solder. One of the pads 150 or 152 is connected to a corresponding one of two pins provided on each serial ID chip 180 .

The printed circuit board 120' differs from the printed circuit board 120 of FIG. 3 in that the printed circuit board 120' includes first to third analog multiplexers 191-193. Each of the first set of printed circuit board traces 171 connects one of the detectors 170 to a corresponding one of the input ports of the multiplexer 191, while the output port of the multiplexer 191 is connected to the microprocessor 190. Control line 191 ′ allows microprocessor 190 to control multiplexer 191 to connect a selected one of detectors 170 to microprocessor 190 . Similarly, each of the third set of printed circuit board traces 156 connects one of the contact pads 150 to a corresponding one of the plurality of input ports of the multiplexer 192, which The output port is connected to microprocessor 190 . Control line 192 ′ allows microprocessor 190 to control multiplexer 192 to connect a selected one of contact pads 150 to microprocessor 190 . Similarly, each of the fourth set of printed circuit board traces 158 connects one of the contact pads 152 to a corresponding one of the input ports of the multiplexer 193, while the output port of the multiplexer 193 connects to microprocessor 190 . Control line 193' allows microprocessor 190 to control multiplexer 193 to connect a selected one of contact pads 152 to ground on microprocessor 190 (or elsewhere on front printed circuit board 120). benchmark.

The firmware/software of the control system can be designed such that the analog multiplexers 192 and 193 are controlled in series so that they always select the input connected to the contact pads 150, 152 that are part of the same pair of contact pads 150, 152 . Thus, in this manner, the control channel associated with a single one of connector ports 34 will be connected to microprocessor 190 at any one time. The system firmware/software can also be configured to coordinate the multiplexers 192, 193 on the different patch panels 32, 32' so that only the microprocessor 190 on one patch panel 32, 32' is always connected at a given time to any particular control channel, thereby avoiding ground loops created by simultaneously connecting the microprocessor 190 on both terminal blocks 32 or 32' to the same control channel. It is also understood that in other embodiments circuits other than the multiplexers 192, 193 may be used. For example, in other implementations, tri-state line drivers may be used.

While the communication patching system and its components have been generally described above with reference to a few exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, connections other than the connection contacts 232 may be used to electrically connect the front and rear printed circuit boards 320, 340 of the modular wall jack assembly 300, such as, for example, jumper cable connections. In yet other embodiments, the front and rear printed circuit boards 320, 340 may be replaced with double-sided printed circuit boards or with flexible printed circuit boards or with single-sided printed circuit boards.

In some embodiments, as another example, a passive tag such as tag 600 mounted on a network device may include one or more LEDs mounted on the front side of a printed circuit board 610 (e.g., for a tag mounted thereon). 600 devices with one LED per connector port). A pair of conductive traces may also be provided on the printed circuit board 610 that connect each LED to the contact pads on the label 600 for the connector port associated with the LED (eg, contact pads 621, 622), so that power can be supplied to each LED. In such a manner, a separate control channel of a patch cord received within one of the connector ports on the network device can also be used to carry the power signal used to light the associated connector port on the network device associated LEDs. Each such LED is activated and used in the same manner as LED 326 on modular wall jack assembly 300 is activated and used.

As another example, while the printed circuit board 120 of the terminal block 32 includes an infrared detector 170 and an infrared emitter 172, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments of the invention, these components may be omitted. In such an embodiment, the microprocessor 190 may periodically send a signal to all connector ports 34 for transmission over the control channel of any patch cord inserted into the connector port 34 . Therefore, according to this embodiment, the design of the printed circuit board 120 of the terminal block 32 can be simplified, but at the expense of additionally performing signal transmission for periodically transmitting signals to the respective connector ports 34, which The signal is then routed through any patch cord that is inserted into a particular connector port 34 to determine the connector port (e.g., connector port 34 on patch panel 32') into which the distal end of any such patch cord is inserted. ' or the connector port 44 on the network adapter 42).

As yet another example, the spring-loaded pins on the end caps could be replaced with resilient connectors.

If the patch cord 200 is connected between a connector port on a network device including a passive label with LED as described above and a connector port on the smart patch panel 32, the operator can press (i.e., activate) Trace button 130 associated with connector port 34 on patch panel 32 . When this occurs, the microprocessor 190 of the patch panel 32 can provide a transmitted power signal on the patch cord 200 to the LED on the passive tag. In this manner, the operator can use the trace button on the patch panel 32 to illuminate the LED on the passive label to quickly and easily locate both ends of the patch cord 200 .

Communication wiring systems according to embodiments of the present invention can be designed such that discovery or verification of the unique identifier on the serial ID chip can be triggered in a number of different ways. For example, in some embodiments, a control signal may be sent to the serial ID chip in response to detection that a patch cord has been inserted into a connector port (either on a patch panel or on a modular wall jack assembly). In other embodiments, the rack controller that controls the microprocessors on all patch panels and other equipment installed in a particular equipment rack may perform routine status checks that are used to Control signals are sequentially sent on cables connected to connector ports on patch panels and/or other equipment mounted on the equipment rack to verify the accuracy of the stored connectivity data. In still other embodiments, system management software, i.e., for example, a rack manager in the control system and/or a microprocessor such as microprocessor 190 on patch panel 32, may be provided to perform periodic checks , thereby verifying the accuracy of the stored connectivity data by sequentially sending control signals over patch cords/cables connected to patch panels and/or network equipment including functionality according to embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that a wide variety of mechanisms may be used to trigger the functions of intelligent patch panels, patch cords, cables and labels according to embodiments of the present invention.

While embodiments of the present invention have been generally described above with reference to copper patch panels and patch cords using twisted pairs for one or more data channels, it will be appreciated that, according to additional embodiments of the present invention, The same technology can be applied to fiber optic patch panels, network equipment and patch cords. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the connector ports described herein may also be fiber optic adapters as opposed to, for example, RJ-45 jacks. It is also understood that when the connector port of an embodiment of the present invention is implemented as a fiber optic adapter, the "input" to the connector port includes the first receptacle of the fiber optic adapter and the "output" of the connector port includes the fiber optic adapter The second plug hole opposite to the first plug hole. These first and second receptacles (and additional components of the fiber optic adapter) are used to align the optical fibers in the first and second patch cords, which are inserted into opposite sides of the adapter so that the fibers in the first patch cord A communication path is provided between an optical fiber in the second patch cord and a corresponding optical fiber in the second patch cord.

Communication patching systems according to embodiments of the present invention may provide various advantages over existing systems. As mentioned above, passive tags can be applied to network adapters, wall jacks, and even terminal equipment such as computers, printers, Internet phones, servers, etc. to allow automatic end-to-end tracing of wiring connections.

In addition, although the serial ID chip tracking unit according to the embodiment of the present invention can use a dedicated patch cord including the ninth and tenth wires, the power strip, wall jack, and device jack according to the embodiment of the present invention can also be used with Standard patch cords work well together - when using such standard patch cords, they just don't have the serial ID chip traceability. The same is true for adapters, wall jacks, servers, routers and other network devices on which passive tags according to embodiments of the present invention are installed.

In the drawings and specification, typical embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed. Although specific terms are used, they are used in a general and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is set forth in the appended claims requirements book.

Claims (19)

1. a method for the cable connectivity in tracking communication system, described method comprises:

Connection between first adaptor connector port of automatic recognition network adapter and the first Modular wall jack being arranged in service area, at least the first connector port of described connected row on the first terminal block between first adaptor connector port of wherein said network adapter and described first Modular wall jack, is undertaken this by following process and automatically identifies:

Bias-voltage is applied to the first conductor of the control channel extended between described first adaptor connector port and described first Modular wall jack, thus power to the first integrated circuit (IC) chip be associated with described first Modular wall jack, described control channel be arranged in all standard network patch cords and cable that to be carried through network be what to separate by the data channel of the information signal transmitted between terminal devices;

By described control channel, the first signal is sent to described first integrated circuit (IC) chip be associated with described first Modular wall jack from the first terminal block; And

In response to described first signal, by described control channel in the secondary signal of described first terminal block place reception from described first integrated circuit (IC) chip, described secondary signal comprises the information about described first Modular wall jack; And

Identified connection is deposited in memory.

2. whether the method for claim 1, comprise further and be automatically identified by the first patch cord and be connected to the terminal equipment of described first Modular wall jack and be energized independent of this terminal equipment.

3. the method for claim 1, the first conductor of wherein said control channel comprises signal and carries conductor, and wherein said control channel comprises the second conductor comprising earthing conductor further.

4. method as claimed in claim 3, wherein, described first integrated circuit (IC) chip comprises serial ID chip.

5. the physical location of described first Modular wall jack is the method for claim 1, wherein comprised about the information of described first Modular wall jack.

6. method as claimed in claim 3, comprises further and first and second conductor forming described control channel is electrically connected to the microprocessor be associated with described terminal block.

7. method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, described first signal is sent to the first integrated circuit (IC) chip from microprocessor, and wherein secondary signal is received at described microprocessor place.

8. method as claimed in claim 2, comprises further:

Automatically determine that whether described terminal equipment is authorized and access described network adapter;

In response to determining the described terminal equipment described network adapter of authorized access and automatic enable described first adaptor connector port.

9. the method for claim 1, comprises further:

Multiple additional connection between multiple additional connector port of the described network adapter of automatic identification and multiple addition modular wall jack; And

Identified multiple additional connection is stored in memory.

10. the method for claim 1, wherein automatically identify that the connection between described first adaptor connector port and described first Modular wall jack comprises further:

Bias-voltage is applied to described first conductor of the described control channel extended between described first adaptor connector port and described first Modular wall jack, to be that the integrated circuit (IC) chip be associated with described first adaptor connector port is powered;

3rd signal is sent to the second integrated circuit (IC) chip be associated with described first adaptor connector port by described control channel from the terminal block be placed between described first adaptor connector port and described first Modular wall jack; And

In response to described 3rd signal, receive the 4th signal from described second integrated circuit (IC) chip to described terminal block by described control channel, described 4th signal comprises the information about the first adaptor connector port.

11. methods as claimed in claim 10, wherein, described second integrated circuit (IC) chip comprises serial ID chip.

12. the method for claim 1, wherein described first Modular wall jack comprise LED, described method comprises the state of circuit utilizing described LED to show by being connected by described first Modular wall jack further.

13. methods as claimed in claim 12, wherein, utilize described LED to show by the state of circuit connected by described first Modular wall jack comprise in response to determine the first Modular wall jack have to the holding completely of described first adaptor connector port-to-end connectedness and make LED luminescence.

14. methods as claimed in claim 12, wherein, utilize described LED to show and comprised in response to determining that described first Modular wall jack has to the holding completely of described first adaptor connector port-to the connectedness of-end and described first adaptor connector port is enabled and makes LED luminescence by the state of circuit connected by described first Modular wall jack.

15. methods as claimed in claim 12, described method comprises further lights LED from the position away from described first Modular wall jack.

16. methods as claimed in claim 12, described method comprises the status button activated on described first Modular wall jack further, to make LED indicating circuit state.

17. methods as claimed in claim 12, wherein, described first Modular wall jack comprises the spring-loaded baffle plate being mounted to the plug hole covering described first Modular wall jack further, and described baffle plate comprises the contact site coordinated with baffle plate contact site when described baffle plate is in its make position.

18. methods as claimed in claim 17, wherein, described baffle plate contact site is configured to serve as determining whether patch cord is inserted into the transducer in plug hole.

19. the method for claim 1, wherein, described control channel is at least included in the first conductor of the first cable extended between the first connector port of described terminal block and described first Modular wall jack, and the second conductor of the second cable that direction at least in part between first connector port and described first adaptor connector port of described terminal block extends.